California couple arrested for child endangerment after 21 children found in their home

In the United States, authorities investigated a case involving Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan after a local hospital reported child abuse related to their two-month-old baby on May 7, 2025. Following the report, police discovered 21 children living at the couple’s large home in Arcadia, ranging in age from two months to 13 years old. Initial findings indicated that many of the children were born through surrogate mothers. The investigation revealed that some surrogates had been misled regarding the couple's intentions, believing they were the only surrogates being utilized. As the investigation unfolded, the Department of Children and Family Services intervened by taking 15 children into protective custody from the couple's home, while six others were located with family and friends. Reports from neighbors suggested that the vast property resembled a hotel, raising suspicions about the couple's living arrangements with so many children. Local authorities suspected the presence of child abuse due to the circumstances uncovered in the investigation, including improper treatment of the children and the couple’s behavior following a serious incident. Zhang and Xuan, who expressed a desire for a large family, were arrested not long after investigators discovered the abuse and neglect charges against them, including allegations of mismanaging surrogacy agreements. They reportedly failed to seek medical attention for their injured infant until two days after the incident. In addition to the couple, a nanny identified as Chunmei Li was also involved in the case. Surveillance footage reportedly showed her abusing the child, which led to wider revelations about the treatment of all the children in their care. The situation has sparked a broader investigation involving the FBI into a possible surrogacy scheme that raises questions about the legal and ethical implications of commercial surrogacy practices. Legal experts noted that the absence of federal regulation on surrogacy allows such potentially exploitative scenarios to occur, emphasizing the need for scrutiny of those arrangements. As this multi-faceted case continues to develop, the safety and placement of the children remain a priority for the relevant authorities, who are committed to ensuring their well-being and investigating the surrogacy practices involved.