Joshua Kannin told police he woke up, saw a small fire in the kitchen, panicked, and ran to a neighbor's door for help. His three children were still inside the apartment. By the time firefighters arrived, the building was fully engulfed in flames.

Kannin, 39, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, had put his kids to bed around 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Authorities believe his two boys, ages 10 and 9, had come back downstairs and were making noodles on the stove when the fire started. His 7-year-old daughter was with them.

What Investigators Found

Connor, 10, and his 9-year-old brother were found dead in the kitchen, where the fire is believed to have originated. Their sister, Alena, 7, was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Kannin admitted to police that he had disconnected the smoke alarms in the apartment. His explanation was that he believed they were malfunctioning and going off randomly, which had become an annoyance. He had also admitted to routinely leaving items on the stove, including donuts, napkins, his wallet, cigarettes, a toaster, and his work bag, any of which investigators believed could have been a secondary fire hazard.

The Kenosha Fire Department confirmed in a statement that there is no evidence Kannin caused the fire directly, either by accident or intent. The children's deaths, authorities concluded, were tied to the conditions inside the apartment and what happened after the fire started.

A Mother's Account

The children's mother described Kannin's apartment as absolutely disgusting and said the food situation for the kids when they stayed there was, in her words, "fend for yourself, in a sense." She also told police she had repeatedly raised concerns about the missing smoke detectors, warning Kannin directly, contacting his mother, who cleaned his apartment once a week, and notifying the landlord.

When she learned what had happened the night of the fire, her first question to Kannin was simple: "You wouldn't grab the kids first?"

She told reporters she now feels like she is "just a shell" and that part of her died with her children. "It's just been pure hell for myself and my family," she said. "I'm literally living my worst nightmare."

The Charges and What Comes Next

The Kenosha County District Attorney's Office charged Kannin with three counts of child neglect resulting in death. He was released from custody following his initial court appearance and is scheduled to return to court on May 14.

Investigators found no evidence that Kannin re-entered the burning apartment to attempt to reach his children before firefighters arrived. When first responders pulled up to the scene, Kannin ran toward them to report that his three children were still inside.