A 39-year-old father, Joshua Kannin, is facing multiple child neglect charges after allegedly leaving his three children inside a burning home during a tragic fire in Kenosha on Thanksgiving Day in November 2025.

The victims, identified as Rylee, 10, Connor, 9, and Alena, 7, all lost their lives in the devastating incident.

According to court documents, police responded to emergency calls on November 27, 2025, after Kannin was seen outside the house wearing only his underwear and desperately calling for help. First responders later found the two boys on the first floor, while Alena was discovered upstairs. The boys were pronounced dead at the scene, while Alena suffered severe burns over most of her body and later died in hospital.

Investigators said Kannin admitted he had smoked a cigarette before going to bed. He reportedly woke up during the night after noticing smoke or hearing his cat, then went into the kitchen where he spotted what he described as a “small fire.” Authorities said he panicked and ran outside, leaving the children inside the house.

Kannin later claimed he attempted to re-enter the home, but thick smoke prevented him from getting far. He allegedly told officers that opening the front door may have worsened the flames.

Fire officials also discovered there were no working smoke detectors in the apartment. Kannin reportedly told investigators he had removed the alarm because it frequently malfunctioned and made random noises. Authorities further noted that boards had been placed over the windows, allegedly to prevent burglaries.

Court filings reportedly revealed that a stovetop burner had been left on, and investigators believe the kitchen was the starting point of the fire. Evidence also suggested that two of the children may have gone into the kitchen to prepare food before the blaze broke out.

Speaking to CBS58, the children’s mother, Jourdan Feasby, described the apartment as “disgusting” and claimed the children were often left to “fend for themselves.”