A wealthy California couple has been arrested after authorities uncovered 21 children, most born through surrogacy, at their Arcadia mansion in a case prosecutors have described as a “house of horrors.”
Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested on Tuesday following a joint operation involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
The couple faces charges including conspiracy to commit child abuse and witness intimidation, while Xuan is also accused of directly abusing a child, according to prosecutors. The pair pleaded not guilty in court and denied the allegations.
Authorities said the children, aged between two months and 13 years, were linked to the couple, with most having been born through surrogate mothers. Fifteen children were initially removed from the Arcadia residence, while six others were located at different addresses. All 21 were subsequently placed in protective custody.
The investigation began after a two-month-old baby was taken to hospital in 2025 with a serious head injury. Police later searched the couple’s home and found other children inside, prompting a wider investigation into their care and the couple’s surrogacy activities.
Prosecutors allege that several children were subjected to physical abuse by nannies employed by the couple. Surveillance cameras installed throughout the mansion allegedly captured incidents of violence and the way the children were disciplined.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the residence had dozens of surveillance cameras, while six live-in nannies cared for the children. Prosecutors further allege that the couple watched the children and nannies through the surveillance system and, in some instances, failed to intervene.
Authorities also linked the couple to a surrogacy business known as Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC, which allegedly recruited women to serve as surrogate mothers. Investigators are examining whether some women were misled about the circumstances surrounding the children they were carrying.
The case has attracted federal attention because of the scale of the couple’s surrogacy activities and the number of children involved. Reports said Xuan and Zhang had been building an unusually large family, with Xuan’s lawyer saying his client wanted the children to grow up to make meaningful contributions to society.
The couple’s lawyer, Mitchell Krems, has rejected the allegations against Xuan, saying his client is being unfairly portrayed and denying that he was responsible for the alleged abuse. The defence has also argued that the case has been influenced by anti-Chinese sentiment.
Prosecutors have raised concerns about the couple’s considerable wealth and possible flight risk. ABC7 reported that the court set bail at $20m each after their arraignment, while prosecutors had sought substantially higher bail.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining the treatment of the children, the surrogacy arrangements and the actions of the nannies involved.
Source: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times and ABC7 Los Angeles.
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