Shocking Baby Abuse Case Uncovers Surrogacy Scandal in California
Arcadia, CA — What began as a child abuse investigation in Arcadia has erupted into a disturbing case involving a possible surrogacy ring and more than 20 children.
Authorities say they were first alerted on May 7, 2025, when a 2-month-old infant was brought to a local hospital suffering from a traumatic brain injury and intracranial bleeding. The baby, now in stable condition, had been having seizures.
When officers from the Arcadia Police Department followed up at the infant’s home — a residence in the 600 block of West Camino Real Avenue — they found an astonishing scene: 15 children, ranging from infants to teenagers, crowded into the home alongside multiple nannies.
Police arrested the child’s parents, Guojun Xuan, 65, and Silvia Zhang, 38, for felony child endangerment and neglect, stating the couple delayed urgently needed medical care for their baby. The Department of Children and Family Services removed all 15 children from the home and placed them in foster care.
But the story didn’t end there. Investigators soon learned of six more children, associated with the couple but living elsewhere, who were also removed and placed in protective custody.
Adding to the gravity of the case, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the home that allegedly shows 56-year-old nanny Chunmei Li violently shaking and striking the injured infant just two days before the child was hospitalized. Li has not yet been formally charged but is part of the ongoing investigation.
What investigators uncovered next shocked even seasoned officers. According to KTLA and NBC Los Angeles, Xuan and Zhang run a company called Mark Surrogacy, which connects surrogates with intended parents seeking children. While the agency presented itself as facilitating private surrogacy arrangements, evidence now suggests that multiple surrogate mothers were unknowingly contracted at the same time—all allegedly on behalf of the same “intended parents.”
One of those surrogate mothers, Kayla Pena, gave birth in March and has since filed for custody of the child she delivered. She says she was told she was the only surrogate, helping a couple struggling to conceive a second child.
“It was her first time being a surrogate mother,” said Kallie Fell, executive director of the Center for Bioethics & Culture Network, who is working with Pena. “She is now trying to get custody of the baby she birthed, but the legal process is incredibly complex.”
Pena has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her legal expenses. “This little one deserves stability, love, and a safe home,” she wrote. “I am prepared and deeply committed to providing that for her.”
Despite the swirling allegations, Silvia Zhang maintains that the couple has done nothing wrong. In a statement to KTLA, she said:
“Any accusations of wrongdoing are misguided and wrong. We look forward to vindicating any such claims at the appropriate time when and if any actions are brought.”
Meanwhile, Arcadia Police Lt. Kollin Cieadlo said the department is continuing to investigate the original abuse incident, while also working with the FBI and child welfare authorities to determine whether further criminal charges are warranted.
Though commercial surrogacy is legal in California, the case has raised serious ethical and legal questions. As Kallie Fell points out, “There are no laws against hiring multiple surrogate mothers at once, but this case shows the inherent dangers of commodifying childbirth.”
As of now, no human trafficking charges have been filed, and the full scope of Mark Surrogacy’s operations remains unclear. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how surrogacy is regulated — especially when the welfare of children is at risk.
