Mon Sep 22 05:50:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Wisconsin Parents Face Neglect Charges After Allegedly Locking Six Children in Storage Unit**

**Milwaukee, WI – September 21, 2024** – A Milwaukee couple, Charles Dupriest, 33, and Azyia Zielinski, 26, are facing multiple charges of child neglect after police discovered their six children locked inside a storage unit near 27th Street and Silver Spring Drive.

Police were called to the scene after receiving a report of a child crying. Upon arrival, officers heard sounds of distress emanating from the unit. The Milwaukee Fire Department was summoned and forced entry, revealing six children, ranging in age from 2 months to 9 years old, confined within the space.

According to a criminal complaint, the storage unit contained only a sofa, a bare mattress, and a bucket used as a toilet. The interior was described as having a “putrid” odor, and the children’s only source of light was a crack beneath the door.

The eldest child, a 9-year-old boy, told authorities he was responsible for caring for his younger siblings, including feeding and comforting the infant. He also alleged that his parents would become intoxicated and physically abuse them.

Dupriest and Zielinski were found sleeping in an SUV outside the storage unit with the family dog. They reportedly admitted to being homeless for approximately six weeks. Dupriest claimed to have previously slept in the unit with the children but stopped due to damage caused by the dog to the vehicle.

During Zielinski’s court appearance, the court commissioner expressed grave concern regarding the children’s welfare, citing reports of food scarcity and the use of a bucket as a toilet. The commissioner further questioned why the parents had not sought assistance from family members.

Dupriest has been charged with two counts of child neglect, four counts of neglecting a child under 6 years old, and possession of a firearm. Zielinski faces two counts of child neglect and four counts of neglecting a child under 6 years old. Dupriest is being held on a $20,000 bond, while Zielinski’s bond is set at $5,000.

The Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office have not yet commented on the case. Attorneys for Dupriest and Zielinski could not be immediately reached for comment.

**If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to http://www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.**

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