A couple from Wisconsin is facing charges after allegedly leaving their six children, four of whom are under six years old, locked in a storage unit with only a bucket for a restroom. Charles A. Dupriest, 33, and Azyia C. Zielinski, 26, were arrested earlier this week and are each facing six counts of child neglect, according to court records. Dupriest is also facing an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Milwaukee Police Department responded to a report of a crying child locked in a storage unit at the Storsafe facility on North 27th Street around 1:33 a.m. on Tuesday. The caller expressed concern for the welfare of the child. Upon arrival, first responders reported hearing a child crying from inside storage unit B58, which was secured with a padlock. Fire department personnel had to cut the padlock to gain access to the unit.
Inside the unit, responders found a bucket filled with urine and six children, ranging in age from two months to nine years. The only source of light in the unit was a small crack in the garage-style door. The children were found sleeping, and a five-year-old child informed the officers that they were instructed not to make noise. The child then used an orange bucket in the center of the unit as a restroom.
The oldest child, a nine-year-old, was awakened by the police and provided the names of his parents. He also revealed that he was tasked with caring for his younger siblings when the adults were not present. The child stated that they spent about half their time in the storage unit, using a bucket for restroom needs. He also mentioned that he was responsible for feeding and comforting the two-month-old baby. The child expressed that he was hungry and had no means of contacting his parents or anyone else in an emergency.
The stench inside the unit was reportedly so foul that officers could not stay inside, even with the garage door open. An employee at the facility recalled hearing a male voice from inside the unit in May, instructing someone to “Sit down and be quiet.” Surveillance footage showed the children being dropped off at the unit by their parents, which was reported to the facility’s management.
Dupriest and Zielinski were found asleep in a Ford Expedition in the parking lot, along with their dog, at 2:11 a.m. The middle row of the vehicle was empty, while all the children, including the infant, were left in the storage unit. The couple claimed they were homeless but admitted that the children could have stayed with other family members.
In a forensic interview, the five-year-old girl expressed feeling sad and angry when locked in the storage unit, leading her to make the unit dirty. She also mentioned her unsuccessful attempts to open the door and her resentment that the dog was allowed to sleep in the car while she and her siblings were left in the unit. The nine-year-old boy revealed that his father disciplined him with physical punishment, and after one such incident, he felt he needed medical attention.
Dupriest and Zielinski are currently detained in the Milwaukee County Jail with bonds set at $10,500 and $10,000, respectively. Court dates have not yet been announced.