Azyia C. Zielinski received 18 months of probation from a Milwaukee County judge after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of child neglect. She and her husband had locked their six children, including a 2-month-old infant, inside a storage unit overnight with only a bucket for a toilet. The incident came to light in September 2025 when police responded to cries from the unit.
On September 16, 2025, at 1:33 a.m., Milwaukee Police Department officers responded to reports of a crying child inside a locked storage unit at Storsafe in the 5500 block of North 27th Street. First responders cut the padlock on unit B58 and entered the pitch-black space, which contained a sectional couch, twin bed, mounds of items, and a bucket with urine that the children used as a toilet. The air was described as putrid, forcing officers to open the garage door to remain inside. They found six children aged 2 months to 9 years sleeping; the ages were 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and 2 months old. The 5-year-old 'ED' told a detective, 'We're not supposed to be loud,' and then urinated in the orange bucket. The 9-year-old reported being responsible for his siblings, staying in the unit about 50% of the time, feeding the infant, and having no way to contact parents; he was hungry during the discovery. The 5-year-old girl 'LD' said she felt sad and mad, tried to open the door unsuccessfully, used the bucket (sometimes with a bag), and was upset the family dog slept in the parents' car instead. An employee recalled hearing a male voice in May say 'Sit down and be quiet' and seeing surveillance of the parents dropping off the children. At 2:11 a.m., police found Zielinski, 26, and husband Charles Dupriest sleeping in a Ford Expedition in the lot; the family claimed homelessness but admitted other relatives could have taken the children. Dupriest was convicted of child neglect in January and faces sentencing on April 9. On March 19, 2026, prosecutors called it a 'tremendously sad case' but noted Zielinski's lesser culpability due to an abusive relationship with Dupriest, her truthful testimony against him, and her remorse. They recommended 18 months prison stayed for three years probation with assessments and sobriety. Her attorney sought 18 months probation, which the judge granted, staying any prison term.