A shocking incident in Arcadia, California has left authorities and the community stunned. A couple, Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang, were arrested for child endangerment after it was discovered that they had 21 children through their own surrogacy business. The children, ranging in age from newborn to 13 years old, were found in various locations, with 15 of them residing in the couple’s home.
The investigation into the couple began when complaints were made about a two-month-old child who had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Further inspection revealed that the family’s nanny, Chunmei Li, was allegedly involved in abusive behavior towards the children. Lt. Kollin Cieadlo of the Arcadia police described the discipline in the home as severe, indicating possible child abuse.
It was revealed that all 21 children were born through surrogacy, with Xuan and Zhang taking legal guardianship of them. One of the surrogate mothers, Kayla Elliot, expressed shock and distress upon learning that the couple had kept the children for themselves. She described the situation as horrific and damaging emotionally, as she had no knowledge of the couple’s intentions.
The couple was initially not charged but were later arrested, while the nanny remains at large. The Center of Bioethics and Culture nonprofit raised concerns about the situation, suggesting that having so many children through surrogacy could potentially be linked to child trafficking. The intentions behind having such a large number of children through assisted reproductive technologies were questioned, raising suspicions about the couple’s motives.
This disturbing case highlights the importance of ethical practices in surrogacy and the need for proper oversight to protect the well-being of the children involved. The community is left reeling from the shocking revelations, as authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the couple’s actions.