'We just wanted them to be warm': Mother testifies in trial of Milwaukee father accused of locking kids in storage unit
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's the second day of a jury trial for a Milwaukee man charged for locking his six children in a storage unit.
Charles Dupriest
Charles Dupriest, 33, is charged with eight counts of child neglect including five felonies and three misdemeanors; he also faces a felony for possessing a firearm.
At the Milwaukee County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. 13, it was a hard morning for some family members as they took the stand.
The mother of the children, Azyia Zielinski, shed tears as she described the difficult times that fell on her and her family while they were experiencing homelessness.
Dupriest appeared in court in a tan button up.
According to court documents, Dupriest was found with Zielinski and their dog in a vehicle on Sept. 16, 2025, and found their six children in the storage unit.
Zielinski said they were working on finding housing when they were arrested, but many shelters told them they couldn't take them with the number of children they had.
She said the night of the arrest, the children were locked in the storage unit to keep them safe in an area where gun violence was common.
The couple was found asleep with their dog to lay low and ultimately try to keep their children safe.
Azyia Zielinski
Zielinski reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, making her guilty of two misdemeanor charges. The four felony counts were dismissed. She will be sentenced in March.
Witness testimony is expected to continue throughout the day.
The prosecution said they'll call up 15 witnesses aiming to show the family had other options to find shelter outside the storage unit.
We're expecting to hear from doctors, police officers, and some of the children who were found in the storage unit.
This is a developing story. Stick with CBS 58 on-air and online for updates.