Authorities in Milwaukee say a heartbreaking scene unfolded when six children were discovered living inside a locked storage unit.

Twenty-six-year-old Azyia Zielinski, who appeared in court crying and visibly shaken, has been charged with six counts of child neglect, according to the NY Post. Charles Dupriest, 33, faces the same six counts along with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Investigators say the discovery began with a 911 call from someone who heard a child crying inside the storage unit. Firefighters responded and had to cut a padlock to get inside. There, they found six children—ages 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and a 2-month-old baby all living in the space. 

According to authorities, the unit container had just a twin mattress without sheets, a sectional sofa, and a bucket the children were using as a toilet. The only light in the unit came from a crack under the garage door.

Police say they found the children’s parents asleep outside in a Ford Expedition parked in the lot, along with the family’s dog. One of the children told police, “She was upset the dog got to sleep in the car while she and her siblings slept in the unit.” 

"I'm confused, like, you don't see kids in here ever, so how is that possible?" said Donnie Earl, who keeps his RV at the storage facility, in an interview with ABC 7.

The discovery has raised questions about how the family ended up there. Child welfare advocates say the situation highlights the vulnerability of families experiencing housing insecurity and the urgent need for resources and intervention before crises escalate to this level.

Zielinski and Dupriest remain in custody while the investigation continues. The children have been taken into protective care.