MILWAUKEE — Six children, ranging in age from just 2 months to 9 years old, were rescued early Tuesday morning from a locked storage unit in Milwaukee under shocking conditions. Police say the discovery was made around 1:30 a.m. on September 16 after a 911 caller reported hearing a child crying.
When officers arrived at the storage facility, they heard coughing and crying from inside one of the units. Firefighters were called in and cut through the lock, revealing a grim scene inside. There was no electricity or running water, only dim light seeping through cracks in the garage-style door. A bucket, apparently used as a toilet, sat in the middle of the room, alongside a worn couch and a bare mattress on the floor.
The children — ages 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and 2 months — were visibly distressed, authorities said. The oldest child told officers he had been left in charge of caring for his siblings but admitted they had no food and no way to reach out for help. Police said the children had been living in the unit for weeks, with no access to basic necessities.
Outside, officers found the parents, identified as 33-year-old Charles Dupriest and 26-year-old Azyia Zielinski, asleep in an SUV parked near the storage unit. The vehicle also contained a dog and a firearm. Investigators confirmed that Dupriest, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a gun. Both parents were taken into custody on multiple counts of child neglect, while Dupriest faces an additional firearm charge.
Court documents revealed that Dupriest and Zielinski admitted to staying in the storage unit with their children after leaving a local shelter. Authorities emphasized that the arrangement posed severe health and safety risks to the children, who were left in the care of their 9-year-old sibling during the night. Social services have since placed the children in protective custody.
The disturbing discovery has drawn strong reactions from the community and child welfare advocates, who stress that the case underscores the dangers of homelessness, untreated trauma, and lack of resources for vulnerable families. Police confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors are preparing formal charges against both parents. For now, officials say their primary concern is ensuring the children remain safe and receive the care they need.