Father Charged with Child Neglect After Thanksgiving Fire Kills Three Young Children in Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. — Nearly five months after a devastating apartment fire claimed the lives of three young siblings on Thanksgiving Day, their father has been charged with felony child neglect resulting in death.

Joshua Kannin, 39, faces three counts in connection with the deaths of his children: Rylee Kannin, 10; Connor Kannin, 9; and Alena Kannin, 7. The charges were filed Tuesday, according to court records.

The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. on November 27 at Kannin’s apartment near 43rd Avenue and 52nd Street. Firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames, with fire visibly pouring from windows and doors.

According to the criminal complaint, Kannin ran up to a responding police officer’s squad car, shouting that his children were still inside the apartment. The officer determined the conditions were too dangerous for entry.

All three children were pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the scene.

Investigation Reveals Critical Safety Failures

During interviews with investigators, Kannin told authorities he woke up to smoke filling the apartment. He went downstairs to the kitchen and saw what he described as “a tiny little” fire on the floor. Instead of attempting to immediately rescue his children, he left the apartment to bang on a neighbor’s door for help.

Kannin said he yelled for his children to come downstairs. “I opened the door, and I heard my kids,” he told investigators. “I tried to go back in, but smoke just came at me and I couldn’t see. I barely got two steps in and I had to turn back around.”

A thorough investigation found no working smoke alarms in the apartment. Kannin admitted to authorities that he had previously removed at least one smoke alarm because it would go off randomly. The property manager confirmed that each unit was required to have smoke detectors on both floors, but Kannin reportedly refused to allow maintenance staff into the apartment for routine monthly checks.

Investigators determined the fire most likely originated on the kitchen stove. The right rear burner was found in the “on” position. Authorities believe Rylee and Connor may have been cooking noodles at the time the fire started. A video recovered from Rylee’s phone, taken just four days before the tragedy, showed the stovetop cluttered with items including a Pepsi can, a plate, and an open jar of peanut ʙuттer.

The Kenosha Fire Department stated in a news release that there is no evidence Kannin intentionally started the fire or caused it through a direct accidental act. However, officials noted that no smoke alarms were sounding at the time of the fire, and Kannin admitted to removing them due to indoor cigarette smoking.

Serious Charges Carry Heavy Penalties

Each count of child neglect resulting in death is a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Kannin is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on May 14.

The tragic loss of Rylee, Connor, and Alena has left the Kenosha community heartbroken. The three siblings were remembered by those who knew them as vibrant children whose lives were cut far too short.

This case highlights critical issues surrounding parental responsibility, home fire safety, and the potentially ᴅᴇᴀᴅly consequences of disabled or missing smoke detectors. Fire safety experts often stress that functioning smoke alarms provide precious minutes that can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

As the legal process moves forward, many in the community are reflecting on the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms, practicing fire escape plans with children, and ensuring young kids are never left unsupervised around potential fire hazards like stoves.

The deaths of these three innocent children serve as a painful reminder of how quickly a normal evening at home can turn into an unimaginable tragedy — and how vital it is for parents to prioritize safety measures that protect the most vulnerable members of their families.