21 Children Removed from California Home Amid Abuse Investigation

Twenty-one children are now in the custody of a California child-welfare agency as authorities investigate a couple in the Los Angeles area for allegedly misleading surrogate mothers across the country. This case centers on a couple residing in Arcadia, California, where fifteen children were removed from their home following an abuse allegation in May 2023. An additional six children, also believed to be connected to the couple, were located elsewhere.

The children, ranging in age from just 2 months to 13 years, have raised concerns about their well-being. According to Arcadia police Lieutenant Kollin Cieadlo, the majority of the children are between 1 and 3 years old. “We believe one or two were born biologically to the mother,” he stated, adding that several surrogates have come forward, claiming to have carried children for the couple.

The couple involved, identified as Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, were arrested in May after a local hospital reported that their 2-month-old infant sustained a traumatic head injury. This injury was allegedly caused by a nanny who violently shook the baby. The infant was not taken to the hospital for two days following the incident. Although the investigation continues, formal neglect charges have not been pursued to allow for a thorough inquiry.

The couple reportedly expressed a desire for a large family, according to Lieutenant Cieadlo. Zhang provided what appeared to be legitimate birth certificates, including documents from outside California, listing her as the mother of the children. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also involved in this investigation, although a spokesperson declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press.

Zhang and Xuan’s case has drawn attention from various media outlets. Some women have come forward, claiming to be surrogate mothers for the couple, stating they were unaware that multiple surrogates were involved. “I’m not familiar with how the surrogacy laws work,” Cieadlo remarked, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive examination of the situation.

Business records from the California Secretary of State indicate that a company named Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC was previously registered at the couple’s address, with its business license terminated in June. Kallie Fell, director of The Center for Bioethics and Culture, has been vocal about the ethical implications of surrogacy. In a recent YouTube interview, she discussed a Texas woman, Kayla Elliott, who gave birth last spring but was misled about the couple’s intentions.

“She was lied to. She was told this couple had one other child and they wanted one more child to complete a family,” Fell stated, highlighting concerns about the lack of oversight in surrogacy practices. Elliott, seeking to raise funds to secure placement of her child, described the legal complexities involved in her situation.

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, responsible for the removal of the children, has not disclosed specific details about the case, citing confidentiality. As the investigation unfolds, further developments are expected to shed light on the practices of Zhang and Xuan and the welfare of the children involved. The implications of this case extend beyond the immediate investigation, raising broader questions about surrogacy regulations and child welfare in California.