An evil couple in Wisconsin are facing an array of neglect charges after their six young children were locked up in a storage unit which had a smell so strong that detectives couldn’t stay inside
A couple are facing several charges after their six children, including an infant, were discovered in a locked, filthy storage unit. The shock discovery was made by officials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after reports of children trapped inside a small unit with no windows.
The six children were found in a StorSafe facility earlier this week. When police arrive, there was a “putrid” smell along with six children of varying ages, from just two months to nine years old. The couple, Charles Dupriest, 33, and Azyia Zielinski, 26, were arrested.
They have been charged with six counts of child neglect each – four of which are felonies that include enhanced charges for neglect involving children under six. As well as that, Dupriest also has an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is also a registered sex offender.
Authorities arrived at the storage facility after reports of a child crying from inside a unit. An officer also heard the sound of a child coughing, but when they arrived, they found a padlock on the door, which was likely fixed to prevent anyone from leaving the unit, according to a criminal complaint viewed by the Daily Mail.
After the fire services were called to cut through the tough locks, six children were found at the other side. There was also an orange bucket of urine in the middle of the dark room, with the only source of light from a narrow crack beneath the garage-style door. One of the children said: “We’re not supposed to be loud.”
The nine-year-old was eventually awoken, who then revealed Dupriest and Zielinski as their parents. He further told the police about his role of caring for the other children while his parents were away.
He had to give a bottle or a pacifier if the children cried, but there was no way for him to get in touch with anyone if there was an emergency. The young boy was also hungry himself.
The unit was also in disarray, with a smell so strong the detectives couldn’t stay inside. The parents were found around an hour later, asleep inside their black Ford Expedition SUV in the car park. There was also a loaded gun in the car. According to the complaint, the pair said they slept there with their dog while their children remained locked inside the unit.
At first, the couple claimed to be homeless. However, they later admitted that the children could have stayed with family or friends. Since the discovery, Zielinski made her first court appearance on Friday, where the state asked for a $1,000 PR bond.
This allowed her release with no upfront payment, as long as she promised to appear in court, according to Fox 6 News.
While the defence agreed to the request, Court Commissioner Andrea Bolender said: “You are supposed to protect them and these children are now supposed to have lifelong scars that will affect every aspect of their life and a PR bond?
“This court has a duty to protect these children and protect others,” she added. “This type of mentality to think this is okay, this cannot go on.”
In the end, a $5,000 cash bond was set for Zielinski with her preliminary hearing scheduled for September 25. Meanwhile, Dupriest made his initial court appearance, where the state recommended a higher cash bail of $10,000.
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