Father Faces Felony Charges After Deadly Fire Kills Three Children.

Tragic Blaze: Father Faces Charges After Leaving Three Children to Die in Burning Apartment

A chilling tragedy unfolded in Kenosha, Wisconsin, when a father allegedly fled a fire in his apartment, leaving his three young children to perish inside. On November 27, 2025, Joshua Kannin, 39, is accused of abandoning his 10-year-old son, Rylee, his 9-year-old son, Connor, and his 7-year-old daughter, Alena, to die in the flames that engulfed their home. The incident, which has left the community in shock, has led to felony charges of child neglect resulting in death.

According to a criminal complaint, the fatal fire began shortly after the family went to bed around 9 p.m. that evening. The family had been at home for a quiet night when the fire began in the kitchen. Kannin, who was asleep on the second floor of their apartment, claimed he woke up to a small fire in the kitchen. In a panic, he rushed downstairs, saw the fire, and immediately ran to a neighbor’s apartment to seek help.

However, the sequence of events that followed has raised many questions. By the time firefighters and police arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m., Kannin’s apartment was already “fully engulfed” in flames. Authorities say that when Kannin told police about his children still being inside the apartment, it was too late. The children, who were still in the apartment as the flames consumed it, tragically died from the smoke and fire.

Connor and Rylee were found in the kitchen, where authorities believe the fire began, and Alena was rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Evidence suggested that Connor and Rylee may have accidentally started the fire while cooking noodles on the stove. One of the burners was found in the “on” position, and other evidence indicated that items like a toaster, napkins, and cigarettes were left near the stove.

A significant piece of the investigation reveals that Kannin had disabled the smoke alarms in the apartment. He admitted to police that he had unhooked the alarms because they had been going off randomly, which he found annoying. Furthermore, Kannin was smoking in the apartment, which violated the property’s rules, and had boarded up the windows to prevent burglars from breaking in. These details paint a concerning picture of Kannin’s neglect and disregard for basic safety precautions, which may have contributed to the fatal tragedy.

The mother of the children, Jourdan Feasby, was horrified when she learned what happened. She had dropped her children off at Kannin’s apartment to spend the holiday, but she later described the apartment as “absolutely disgusting.” She told police that the situation for the children was grim when staying with their father, with them often having to “fend for themselves” when it came to food. In a heartbreaking interview, Feasby recounted her conversation with Kannin while he was being treated for smoke inhalation at the hospital. She asked him, “You wouldn’t grab the kids first?” questioning his failure to prioritize their safety over his own.

The fire department investigation ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that Kannin caused the fire intentionally or maliciously. The fire’s origins were linked to a cooking accident, but the tragic reality of what happened in those final moments remains devastating. The children’s deaths could have been prevented if their father had made different choices, and the neglect of basic fire safety protocols ultimately led to this heartbreaking loss.

Following the charges, Kannin faces three felony counts of child neglect resulting in death. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 14, 2026. The community, along with the grieving family, is left to grapple with the aftermath of this horrific event. The family’s heartbreak has been compounded by the realization that these children, full of potential and love, were denied their chance at life due to their father’s recklessness and neglect.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, GoFundMe campaigns were launched by concerned community members to help with funeral expenses and to support the children’s surviving relatives as they navigate this heartbreaking loss. The family and the community are now left with the painful task of remembering the three young victims whose lives were tragically cut short in a blaze that could have been avoided with basic care and responsibility.

The tragic deaths of Rylee, Connor, and Alena Kannin serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglect and the importance of ensuring that basic safety precautions are taken to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is a reminder that every decision we make can have profound and irreversible consequences, and that the lives of children should always be treated with the utmost care and respect.

The case continues to unfold, and as it does, it is clear that the road to justice for these innocent children will be long and painful for their surviving family members. The loss of these children is a reminder that life is fragile and that we must always act with responsibility and compassion to prevent senseless tragedies like this one from occurring.