Joshua Kannin, a 39-year-old man from Wisconsin, has been charged with three counts of child neglect resulting in death following a tragic apartment fire that claimed the lives of his three children. The incident occurred on November 27, 2025, and the charges were announced by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office on April 22, 2026.
The Tragic Fire
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kannin had put his children—10-year-old Rylee, 9-year-old Connor, and 7-year-old Alena—to bed at around 9:00 p.m. on the night of the fire.
Shortly thereafter, Kannin woke up and discovered “a little fire” in the kitchen of his apartment. In a panic, Kannin ran to his neighbor’s apartment to ask for help, believing his children were still upstairs in the apartment.
By the time firefighters and police arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m., the apartment was fully engulfed in flames. Kannin reportedly ran to the first responders and told them that his three children were still inside the burning apartment.
Father’s Actions and Investigations
Kannin stated that after running to his neighbor’s apartment for help, he returned to the apartment and heard his children inside. He claimed he tried to re-enter the building but was stopped by thick smoke, which prevented him from going any further.
When authorities arrived, they found Connor and Rylee dead in the kitchen, which was believed to be the origin of the fire. Alena was rushed to a hospital but later died from her injuries.
Evidence suggested that the two boys had been cooking noodles on the stove while their father was asleep. One of the stove burners was found left on, and the boys could have accidentally started the fire.
Alleged Negligence by the Father
Investigators also found that Kannin had left several items on the stove, including “packs of donuts, his wallet, pack of cigarettes, a toaster, his work bag, napkins, and possibly other items”—all of which could have caught fire while the children were cooking.
Additionally, Kannin admitted to unhooking the smoke alarms in the apartment because he believed they were malfunctioning and became “annoying.” He also admitted to smoking inside the apartment, which violated the property’s rules, and had boarded up the windows to prevent burglaries.
Mother’s Statement
Jourdan Feasby, the mother of the three children, had dropped them off at Kannin’s apartment for the latter part of the Thanksgiving holiday. According to the complaint, Feasby described Kannin’s apartment as “absolutely disgusting” and stated that the children were often left to “fend for yourself” when staying there.
In an interview with People, Feasby recalled speaking with Kannin at the hospital after the fire, while he was being treated for smoke inhalation. She said she asked him, “You wouldn’t grab the kids first?”
Legal Charges and Fire Department Statement
The Kenosha Fire Department released a statement clarifying that there was no evidence to suggest that Kannin caused the fire, either through accident or malicious intent. However, he has been charged with three felony counts of child neglect resulting in death.
Kannin has not appeared in any jail rosters, and his first court appearance is scheduled for May 14, 2026.
Community Support and GoFundMe Campaigns
Following the tragedy, GoFundMe campaigns have been launched to raise money for the children’s funeral expenses and to support the family during this difficult time.
The charges against Kannin continue to spark shock and anger, with the community grappling with the loss of three young lives and questions surrounding the father’s actions in the moments leading up to the fatal fire.
