A troubling case has emerged from Wisconsin, where a couple faces neglect charges after their six children were discovered locked in a disheveled storage unit in Milwaukee, as indicated by court documents.
The ages of the children span from a mere 2 months to 9 years.
Authorities were alerted to the scene following cries of distress coming from the storage facility, as reported by WISN-TV here.
Firefighters had to cut the lock to gain access to the unit.
Inside, they found the young ones—ages 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and an infant—living in conditions that were deemed unacceptable.
Lucky for them, no injuries were reported, according to NBC News as noted here.
However, the grim details are hard to overlook: a bucket contaminated with urine served as their makeshift toilet, and there was a complete absence of electricity and running water within the unit.
Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Andrea Bolender conveyed the severity of the situation during a hearing, expressing disbelief that none of the children had perished. She recounted their harrowing words, revealing, “The only sustenance they found was scavenged from the garbage.”
The suffocating stench was described as “putrid,” while one child reportedly used the bucket in front of investigators.
Six children were found in a locked storage unit in Milwaukee, leading to charges of child neglect against their parents, who were located sleeping nearby in a car. Detective Andrew Farina characterized the situation following an absurd 911 call. More details here pic.twitter.com/4LTWp7pRg2
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) September 26, 2025
The eldest child, a 9-year-old boy, took on the responsibility of caring for his siblings, a grim role for someone so young. He informed investigators that they utilized the bucket for both urine and feces and had no means of reaching out for assistance.
A worker from the storage facility recounted overhearing an adult male commanding the children to “Sit down and be quiet” as early as May.
The children’s parents, Charles Albert Dupriest, 33, and Azyia C. Zielinski, 26, were eventually found dozing in a nearby SUV, fully aware of their children’s dire circumstances yet choosing comfort in a vehicle over care at home.
This couple was reportedly on assistance, receiving food stamps along with $2,000 monthly in Social Security benefits.
In an ironic twist, one child expressed distress that their dog was allowed to stay in the car while the children endured abject conditions in the storage unit.
Charges against Dupriest include possession of a firearm as a felon, in addition to six counts of child neglect. Zielinski also stands accused of six counts of child neglect, as reported by WISN.
Reports indicate that the couple stayed at Joy House, a shelter for women and children, only to be “kicked out” in July.
However, Patrick Vanderburgh, the president and CEO of the mission, stated that they confirmed the family had secured permanent housing prior to their departure from Joy House, making their current plight even more unfathomable.
This troubling incident raises questions about the systemic failures that allow such situations to occur, revealing the stark contrast between societal support systems and the harsh realities faced by vulnerable families.
This story first appeared in The Western Journal.
