A heartbreaking case out of Wisconsin is drawing national attention after a father was charged months after a deadly apartment fire that claimed the lives of his three young children.
Authorities say 39-year-old Joshua Kannin is now facing three felony counts of child neglect resulting in death following the November 27, 2025 fire in Kenosha.
According to investigators, Kannin told police he and his children—10-year-old Rylee, 9-year-old Connor, and 7-year-old Alena—went to bed around 9 p.m. that night. A short time later, he said he woke up and went downstairs, where he noticed what he described as a small fire in the kitchen.
Instead of immediately getting his children out, Kannin told police he panicked and ran to a neighbor’s apartment to get help, believing the kids were still upstairs.
By the time first responders arrived around 10:30 p.m., the apartment was completely engulfed in flames. Kannin reportedly told them his children were still inside.
He later said he tried to go back in but was forced to turn around because of thick smoke.
Tragically, two of the children were found dead in the kitchen area, where investigators believe the fire may have started. The third child was rushed to the hospital but later died.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found evidence that the children may have been cooking on the stove while their father was asleep upstairs. One burner was left on, and officials say the kitchen was cluttered with items including food, paper products, and other objects that could have easily caught fire.
Authorities also say Kannin admitted to disconnecting the apartment’s smoke alarms because they were going off too often and had become “an annoyance.” He also told police he smoked inside the apartment and had boarded up windows.
Officials emphasized there is no evidence that Kannin intentionally started the fire. However, they allege his actions—or lack of them—contributed to the deadly outcome.
The children’s mother, who had dropped them off to spend part of the holiday with their father, reportedly described the living conditions as unsafe and said the kids were often left to fend for themselves.
Kannin has been charged but was not listed in custody as of the latest reports. He is expected to make his first court appearance on May 14.