Dad jailed for locking kids in storage unit

Charles Dupriest, a Wisconsin father, was convicted on January 14, 2026, of eight counts of child neglect and illegal firearm possession. He had kept his six children, ranging from 2 months to 9 years old, locked inside a storage unit lacking electricity. Authorities discovered the children after responding to a crying sound from the unit on September 16, 2025. The unit was found in a putrid state of disarray, with children using a bucket for waste.

Dupriest and the children's mother, Azyia Zielinski, were found sleeping in an SUV in the parking lot and revealed they were experiencing homelessness. They admitted their children could have stayed with family members instead of in the storage unit, where Zielinski stated they had resided for about a month and a half. The oldest child, a 9-year-old boy, reported being responsible for his younger siblings during these times.

Zielinski pleaded guilty to two child neglect charges on January 8, 2026, with four other charges dismissed. She had reportedly struggled with housing for seven years and mentioned her family was kicked out of a shelter in July 2025. Dupriest, who showed little reaction to the verdict, is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, 2026, while Zielinski will be sentenced on March 19, 2026.