California Couple Charged with Abuse of 15 Surrogate‑Born Children

A San Bernardino County couple, 66‑year‑old Guojun Xuan and 39‑year‑old Silvia Zhang, have been charged with multiple counts of child abuse and obstruction of justice after a police raid on their Arcadia mansion exposed what court officials described as a "house of horrors".

Allegations and Legal Action

The pair are accused of physically harming 15 children, the vast majority of whom were born to surrogate mothers the couple misled about their intent. The allegations include slapping, spanking and other forms of physical discipline filmed by an extensive camera network installed throughout the home.

Surrogacy Scheme and Deception

Xuan’s firm supposedly offered surrogacy services while falsely presenting Zhang as a struggling mother. Surveillance footage allegedly shows nannies, under the couple’s direction, disciplining infants as young as two months old in designated "learning centres" within the mansion.

Discovery and Raid

In May 2025 an infant was brought to a hospital with a head injury, prompting doctors to inform police. When authorities arrived at the residence they found 32 motion‑activated cameras and evidence of repeated physical abuse.

Legal Consequences

Police arrested the couple on Tuesday; both plead not guilty. Xuan faces a potential maximum of 17 years and four months in state prison, while Zhang could receive up to 11 years and eight months. The alleged nanny, Chunmei Li, was previously charged with child abuse and a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Implications for the Surrogacy System

Lawyers for surviving surrogate mothers praised the investigation as a step toward holding the surrogacy system accountable. The case raises questions about regulatory oversight and the protections afforded to both children and surrogate mothers.