Authorities in California have removed 21 children from a residence as part of an ongoing child abuse investigation, which also includes disturbing allegations that surrogate mothers may have been misled or exploited.
The investigation began after multiple complaints and reports raised concerns about the well-being of several children living in a single home. Law enforcement and child protective services executed a search warrant at the property, where they discovered the children living in what officials described as unsafe and potentially abusive conditions.
Officials have not publicly disclosed the exact location of the home to protect the identities of the children and those involved in the investigation. However, they confirmed that all 21 children have since been placed into protective custody and are receiving care.
In addition to the abuse allegations, investigators are now looking into claims that some of the children may have been born through surrogacy arrangements under questionable circumstances. Authorities are examining whether surrogate mothers were deceived or manipulated into giving up parental rights without full knowledge of the intended use or living conditions for the children.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, some of the surrogate mothers were allegedly promised that the children would be placed in loving families, only to later discover that the children were kept in a single, overcrowded home. In some cases, it is believed the mothers were unaware of how many children had already been placed with the individuals involved.
Child welfare advocates are calling the case deeply troubling, highlighting the need for stronger oversight of surrogacy practices, especially when large numbers of children are involved. Several legal experts have pointed out that while surrogacy laws vary by state, intentional deception of surrogate mothers or misuse of parental rights could amount to fraud and human trafficking.
“This case raises serious red flags about the exploitation of women and children,” said a spokesperson for a national child advocacy group. “We need a full investigation to determine how this was allowed to happen, and what legal loopholes may have been exploited.”
So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation remains active. Authorities are also trying to determine the exact relationships between the adults in the home and the children, as well as whether any financial gain was involved in the alleged surrogacy arrangements.
The case has sparked outrage and concern from local residents and lawmakers, who are demanding transparency and swift action. Several state agencies are now coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of the children and to hold any responsible parties accountable.
Further updates are expected as authorities continue to review documents, interview those involved, and unravel the complex network of surrogacy, custody, and care arrangements that brought the children to the home.
21 Children in State Custody as California Couple Faces Scrutiny Over Surrogacy and Abuse Allegations
The investigation began in May after police responded to an abuse report involving a 2-month-old infant who had suffered a traumatic head injury. The baby had not been brought to a hospital for two days, prompting concern from medical staff and law enforcement. Arcadia police later determined the injury was caused by a nanny violently shaking the child.
Following that incident, officers removed 15 children from the couple’s lavish home in Arcadia, a suburb northeast of Los Angeles. Authorities subsequently located six additional children living at other locations.
Lt. Kollin Cieadlo of the Arcadia Police Department said at least one or two of the children are believed to be the couple’s biological offspring. However, multiple women have come forward claiming they were surrogate mothers for the couple, raising serious questions about how the other children came to be in the home and the legal nature of the surrogacy arrangements.
The couple at the center of the investigation—Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65—were arrested in May, though formal child neglect charges have not yet been filed. Police say this decision was made to allow the broader investigation to proceed without legal complications.
“They said they wanted a large family,” Lt. Cieadlo noted, adding that Zhang had produced what appeared to be valid birth certificates, including some issued from states outside California. Many list her as the legal mother.
The case has drawn national attention as investigators, including the FBI, now seek to understand whether the surrogacy process was abused or manipulated.
Women who say they were surrogates for Zhang and Xuan have begun speaking out, claiming they were misled. According to local Los Angeles television outlets, several surrogate mothers believed they were helping build a small family. One woman, Kayla Elliott of Texas, said she was told the couple had one child and wanted another to complete their family. She later learned that the couple had worked with many other surrogates and may have operated their own surrogacy business.
“It wasn’t until much later that she found out they were the owners of the agency,” said Kallie Fell, director of The Center for Bioethics and Culture, which opposes commercial surrogacy. “They operate with zero oversight.”
Fell shared Elliott’s story in a recent YouTube interview, stating that Elliott gave birth last spring and now hopes to reclaim custody of the child. Elliott has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for legal proceedings.
It’s currently unclear whether Zhang and Xuan have retained legal counsel. Attempts to contact Zhang for comment were unsuccessful, and no lawyer has publicly come forward on the couple’s behalf.
Public records reveal that the couple once operated a business named Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC from their Arcadia home. However, state filings indicate the business license was terminated in June, shortly after the children were removed and the investigation intensified.
So far, law enforcement has not confirmed whether the business was directly tied to the current case. But the connection is fueling calls for closer scrutiny of surrogacy regulations, particularly regarding oversight and transparency.
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the agency now caring for the children, said it could not comment on the case due to confidentiality laws.
Legal experts and child welfare advocates are watching the situation closely, concerned about what they describe as potential exploitation of women and endangerment of children. Some are calling for a review of how surrogacy contracts are regulated in California and across the U.S., especially when they involve multiple children and agencies operating across state lines.
“It’s one thing for someone to desire a large family—but if that desire involves misleading surrogates and endangering children, it crosses into very dangerous legal territory.”
The investigation remains active, with law enforcement agencies continuing to gather documents, interview witnesses, and examine the legal status of each child. The outcomes may not only affect the lives of the children involved but could also shape future regulations surrounding surrogacy in the United States.