Wisconsin Father Saved Himself While Three Children Died in House Fire — Joshua Kannin Charged With Three Counts of Child Neglect After Unplugging Smoke Alarms

WISCONSIN — Joshua Kannin, 39, of Wisconsin was charged with three counts of child neglect resulting in death after a November 2025 house fire killed his three children — Rylee, 10, Connor, 9, and Alena, 7. Kannin told police he saw a small fire in the kitchen but panicked and ran to a neighbor for help instead of grabbing his children. Investigators also revealed Kannin had unplugged the smoke alarms in the home because he found them annoying, and he now faces felony charges in connection with the deaths of all three children.

Father Panicked and Ran to Neighbor Instead of Grabbing Children as Fire Grew

According to police, Kannin told investigators he noticed a small fire in the kitchen but instead of grabbing his three children, he panicked and ran to a neighbor’s home for help. By the time firefighters arrived on scene, the apartment was fully engulfed in flames. Kannin later claimed he attempted to go back inside the burning home but was stopped by heavy smoke before he could reach his children.

Rylee, 10, Connor, 9, and Alena, 7, all perished in the fire that consumed the family’s Wisconsin home in November 2025.

Smoke Alarms Were Unplugged by Kannin Because He Found Them Annoying

One of the most damning details to emerge from the investigation was the revelation that Kannin had deliberately unplugged the smoke alarms in the home because he considered them annoying. Investigators determined this decision left the three children with no early warning system that could have alerted them to the fire before it spread beyond control throughout the apartment.

Investigators also determined the fire may have started while the children were using the stove, with a burner left on and items on top of the stove potentially catching fire and spreading rapidly through the home.

Mother Confronts Father at Hospital — Kannin Now Faces Felony Charges

The children’s mother confronted Kannin at the hospital following the tragedy, asking him directly why he could not grab the kids first before fleeing the burning home. Her anguished question captured the devastating reality of losing all three of her children in a fire while their father escaped alone.

Officials confirmed there was no evidence that Kannin intentionally started the fire. However, the combination of abandoning the children during the fire and deliberately disabling the smoke alarms resulted in three counts of child neglect resulting in death and felony charges that Kannin now faces in connection with the November 2025 tragedy. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates and detailed coverage.