Kenosha father charged with child neglect in Thanksgiving fire that killed 3 children

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Charges are now filed against the father of three children who lost their lives in a Kenosha apartment fire on Thanksgiving of last year.

Police say 39-year-old Joshua Kannin is charged with three counts of child neglect (consequence is death).

Rylee Levi, 10, Connor Liam, 9, and Alena Ellen, 7, died as a result of the fire that broke out near 43rd Ave. and 52nd St.

The children's mother said the new details made her too emotional to speak on camera.

Additionally, investigators now believe they know how the fire started. And there are a lot of factors, including the removal of smoke detectors, smoking in the house, and letting young children use the stove. It led to a tragedy.

A search warrant revealed Joshua told investigators he woke up and saw "a little fire on the kitchen floor," panicked and walked out the front door looking for help.

He reportedly said when he went back inside, the smoke was too thick and made worse by opening the door. Kannin was treated for smoke inhalation at an area hospital.

Plywood boards cannot hide the charred scars of the fire.

Gregory Rawls lives two doors down. He told us, "You just really don't want to look at. I know there's a lot of people don't look at it because it'll remind them of what happened."

Rawls is reminded of it every day, but other neighbors couldn't take it.

"Lady next door, that was their best friends. So they moved," Rawls said. "They couldn't even look at the building anymore. So they left."

The Kenosha fire and police departments reviewed surveillance footage, witness statements, and fire investigation reports.

This week, authorities charged Joshua Kannin with three counts of child neglect.

Kannin told investigators he woke up, saw a small fire, yelled for the children to come downstairs, then he ran to get help. The children never made it out.

Their mother, Jourdan Feasby, did not live at the home.

She told police Kannin did not like to cook and described the eating situation as "fend for yourself, in a sense."

Ten-year-old Rylee told her that Kannin had taught him how to use the stove.

A complaint said Kannin's apartment was a mess, with clutter everywhere, including a lot of items on the stove, like napkins.

Investigators believe the fire started when the 9 and 10-year-old boys went into the kitchen to make food while Kannin was asleep.

Investigators later found a rear stove burner appeared to be in the on position.

Additionally, Kannin admitted to law enforcement that he took down a smoke detector long before so he could smoke cigarettes in his kitchen, even though his lease said smoke detectors must be on the walls and functional at all times or he would be fined.

Rawls said, "Everybody is supposed to have smoke detectors in here. You're not even really supposed to smoke inside these apartments. Most people come outside."

Feasby said she told people about the missing smoke detectors multiple times, including Kannin's mother and the property manager, as early as the summer of 2024.

"There's only so much I can do," she said. "He [Kannin] doesn't listen to me."

The property manager told authorities they perform monthly checks of the smoke detectors in the apartment complex. But she said Kannin would never let them inside to check his alarms.

Despite the loss, there are small signs of life and growth outside.

Rawls pointed to new tulips growing under a boarded-up window. "I saw God's work. Grew flowers. Flowers have never been there so that's for the three babies that we lost."

Detectives said there is no evidence suggesting the fire was set intentionally, according to the complaint.

We reached out to Joshua Kannin for an interview but did not hear back.

He has not been arrested but has been ordered to appear in Kenosha County court May 14.