A father in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is facing multiple charges of child neglect after he allegedly abandoned his three young children in a burning home while he escaped to save himself. Joshua Kannin, 39, was formally charged on April 21, 2026, for leaving his children, Rylee, 10; Connor, 9; and Alena, 7, to perish in a fire that occurred on Thanksgiving Day in November 2025. According to court documents, Kannin admitted that he panicked and ran out of the house, leaving the children trapped inside.
Details of the Incident
Police responded to 911 calls on November 27, 2025, and found a distressed Kannin outside the burning home, wearing only his underwear. First responders discovered the two brothers on the first floor and their sister on the second floor. The boys died at the scene, while Alena was rushed to the hospital with severe burns covering 80% of her body. She later succumbed to her injuries.
Kannin was also hospitalized after the fire. He told authorities that he had been smoking a cigarette before bed and woke up in the middle of the night, initially thinking his cat was making noise. He went to the kitchen, saw a small fire, panicked, and walked out the front door. He claimed he tried to re-enter the home but was unable to due to thick smoke.
Lack of Smoke Detectors
Firefighters found no working smoke detectors in the home. Kannin allegedly said he removed the detectors because they frequently malfunctioned and made random sounds. Additionally, boards were nailed over the windows to prevent burglaries, which may have hindered escape. Investigators determined that a stovetop burner had been left on, and the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen. Evidence suggested that two of the children may have been trying to prepare food before the blaze began.
Mother's Grief and Call for Justice
The children's mother, Jourdan Feasby, described her ex-husband's apartment as "disgusting" and said the children were left to fend for themselves. She told CBS58 that she had repeatedly complained about the missing smoke detectors to Kannin, his mother, and the landlord. Feasby said she feels like "just a shell" and that she died with her children that day. While she expressed mixed feelings about the charges, she vowed to push for justice and insisted there must be "serious repercussions."
The fire was ruled an accidental household fire. Kannin remains in custody awaiting trial.
