A father from Wisconsin faces charges after allegedly abandoning his three children during a house fire on Thanksgiving. Joshua Kanin, 39, has been charged with child neglect following the tragic death of his children, 10-year-old Riley, 9-year-old Connor, and 7-year-old Alena. The children’s mother expressed her devastation, describing her experience as her “worst nightmare,” as the fire engulfed their Kenosha home on November 27.
The police reportedly received an emergency call about the house being “fully engulfed,” prompting them to investigate Kanin’s residence. When they arrived, he was found outside in his underwear, seeking help.
Alena was discovered on the second floor, while her brothers were found on the first floor. Sadly, the two boys were pronounced dead, and Alena, suffering from severe burns covering 80% of her body, later passed away in the hospital.
Kanin, who was also hospitalized, admitted that he had smoked a cigarette before bedtime but was unsure if he woke up due to the sound of a “cat’s meow” or smoke. He recalled seeing a “small fire on the kitchen floor” and left the house in a panic, thinking he needed to get help.
He told authorities that he had urged his children to escape the burning house and attempted to return inside but found the smoke overwhelming. “I could barely take two steps in and had to turn back,” he explained. “When I opened the door, things got worse.”
Investigators later revealed that the home did not have a functioning smoke detector. Kanin explained that he had removed one due to it malfunctioning and making disturbing noises.
The children’s mother, Jordan Feasby, stated that she had warned Kanin about the lack of smoke alarms. She mentioned discussions she had with others, including the landlord, regarding the issue.
Feasby described her ex-husband’s living conditions as “disgusting,” noting it was a place she felt she had to “protect” herself from. Nearly five months after the fire, she reflected on the accusations against him as “bittersweet,” expressing emptiness since the event. “I died with them that day,” she lamented.
She shared how painful this experience has been for her family, calling it their “worst nightmare.” While the fatalities were ruled an accident, Feasby is advocating for justice, emphasizing the need for “serious consequences” for Kanin.
Kanin is set to appear in court on May 14.
