Wisconsin Couple Arrested After Six Children Found Living in Filthy Milwaukee Storage Unit
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A Wisconsin couple has been charged after police discovered six children locked in a storage unit under conditions authorities described as “putrid” and unsafe.
Children Found in Storage Unit
On Sept. 16, Milwaukee police responded to reports of a child crying at a storage facility near 27th Street and Silver Spring Drive. When officers arrived, they heard crying and coughing from inside a locked unit.
The Milwaukee Fire Department cut the padlock and found six children inside — ages 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and 2 months.
Authorities said the unit contained a sofa, a bare mattress, and a single bucket used for urine. The only light came from a crack beneath the door, and officials described the smell as “putrid.”
Parents Arrested and Charged
The children’s parents, Charles Dupriest, 33, and Azyia Zielinski, 26, were found asleep in an SUV outside the unit with the family dog.
Both were arrested and charged with:
- Two counts of child neglect
- Four counts of neglecting a child under 6 years old
Dupriest also faces an additional charge of illegal firearm possession.
Court records show Zielinski’s bond set at $5,000, while Dupriest’s is $20,000.
Children’s Accounts
According to the complaint, the 9-year-old told investigators he was responsible for feeding and caring for his siblings, including the infant. He also said his parents often got drunk and punished them with “whoopings.”
Authorities further noted that the children admitted to finding food in the garbage to survive.
Court Remarks
During Zielinski’s first court appearance, the commissioner said:
“We have your children stating that they had no food. That the only food they found was from the garbage. They didn’t have a bathroom. They used a bucket. And what’s more disturbing … is that you and the children could have stayed with family members.”
Ongoing Investigation
The couple told police they had been homeless for about six weeks, sometimes sleeping inside the storage unit with the children.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the case remains under investigation.
The discovery of six neglected children in a storage unit has shocked Milwaukee and sparked renewed concerns about child welfare and housing insecurity. For more Wisconsin crime and public safety updates, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.