A shocking case in California has exposed a disturbing situation involving child abuse, a possibly unethical surrogacy agency, and more than 20 children now in foster care.
What started as an investigation into a single infant’s injuries quickly turned into a far wider issue when police discovered over a dozen children living under one roof, many of them linked to an agency that may have misled surrogate mothers.
How It All Began
On May 7, 2025, officers from the Arcadia Police Department were called to a hospital where a 2-month-old baby girl had been admitted with serious injuries — including brain trauma and internal bleeding. The baby was suffering from seizures, and medical staff quickly realized something wasn’t right.
Police then went to the baby’s home in Arcadia, a city northeast of Los Angeles. They found 15 other children in the house, along with several nannies. Some of the children were babies and toddlers, while others were as old as 13. None of this had been reported to authorities before.
What Police Found Next
The baby’s parents — 65-year-old Guojun Xuan and 38-year-old Silvia Zhang — were arrested for felony child endangerment and neglect.
According to surveillance footage, a nanny named Chunmei Li, 56, had violently shaken and hit the baby just two days before she was taken to the hospital. Police say the parents delayed getting medical help, which could have worsened the child’s condition.
Even more shocking, officers soon learned that six additional children — living at other locations but connected to the same couple — were also placed in foster care by child services. In total, 21 children were taken into protective custody.
The Surrogacy Link
Authorities also discovered that Zhang and Xuan operate a business called Mark Surrogacy. This agency pairs people who want children with surrogate mothers.
But there’s a disturbing twist — some surrogate mothers were reportedly told they were the only ones carrying a child for the couple, while in reality, many were giving birth to babies all for the same people.
One woman, Kayla Pena, shared her story through a nonprofit called the Center for Bioethics & Culture Network. She believed she was helping a couple have a second child. She now wants custody of the baby she gave birth to in March and has started a GoFundMe to support the legal process.
Are Any Laws Broken?
That’s a tricky question. In the U.S., including California, it’s legal to hire multiple surrogates at once. However, as nonprofit executive Kallie Fell pointed out, this case reveals serious concerns about the lack of regulation in commercial surrogacy.
The legal system is not fully equipped to handle complex cases like this, where questions of ethics, child welfare, and surrogacy rights all collide.
As of now, no charges have been filed related directly to the surrogacy practices. Investigators say their current focus is on the child abuse case, but they are working with the FBI and child services to see if any further action is necessary.
What Happens Next?
The baby remains in stable condition in the hospital. The other children are in foster care. Investigations are ongoing, and more details may emerge about the surrogacy agency’s practices.
Meanwhile, Zhang maintains her innocence. In a public statement, she said, “Any accusations of wrongdoing are misguided and wrong. We look forward to vindicating any such claims at the appropriate time.”
This tragic and complicated case shines a light on a much larger issue — the need for stronger laws and clearer oversight in the world of commercial surrogacy.
It also highlights how quickly something meant to bring joy — like the birth of a child — can turn into a legal and ethical nightmare when human lives are treated like business deals. Until the legal system catches up, stories like these may continue to unfold in painful ways for children, surrogate mothers, and families alike.
