Police in Arcadia, California, are currently investigating a troubling case of child abuse and neglect that has taken a dark turn involving a couple who allegedly hired surrogate mothers to carry children for them.
On May 7, a local hospital alerted the Arcadia Police Department after a 2-month-old baby was admitted with a traumatic head injury and brain bleeding.
As authorities began their investigation, they found surveillance footage from the home of Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, showing a nanny shaking and hitting the infant just two days prior to the hospitalization.
The police indicated that the parents were aware of the incident but failed to seek prompt medical attention for the child, who was not taken to the hospital until two days later after suffering seizures.
Following this shocking discovery, the Arcadia Police Department issued arrest warrants for Zhang, Xuan, and their nanny, Chunmei Li, 56, on May 9.
Both Zhang and Xuan have been arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and neglect, each having their bail set at $500,000.
In light of these serious allegations, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services intervened, removing a total of 21 children from the couple’s care.
Following the initial abuse report, 15 children were taken from their opulent home in Arcadia, while another six were located in different living arrangements.
The ages of the children under custody range from a mere 2 months to 13 years old, with the majority being between 1 and 3 years of age.
Detectives have indicated that while one or two of the children may be biologically related to Zhang, the majority were born through surrogates they hired from an agency called Mark Surrogacy.
Interestingly, Zhang presented what seemed to be legitimate birth certificates, some of which were issued outside of California, listing her as the legal mother.
The investigation is expanding, with the FBI also involved, as detectives work to understand the full scope of the alleged crimes.
According to Lt. Kollin Cieadlo, they are attempting to unravel the complexities of surrogacy laws as they pertain to this case.
In a report detailing the experiences of several surrogate mothers allegedly deceived by Zhang and Xuan, one woman noted that she was informed she was helping a couple struggling with infertility.
However, it soon became evident that the couple was, in fact, using surrogates to build their family according to their own desires and circumstances.
Neighbors of the couple described their lavish $4 million home, likening it to a hotel with a lobby area and suites rather than a typical family residence.
In the wake of these events, Kayla Elliot, a surrogate mother from Pennsylvania, has begun a crowdfunding campaign in hopes of regaining custody of the baby girl she carried for nine months.
In her heartfelt plea for support, Elliot expressed her commitment to providing a loving, stable home for the newborn, who, along with many others, has been placed into foster care.
“The legal process to secure placement is complex and costly,” she stated, emphasizing her dedication to the well-being of the child.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Elliot’s crowdfunding effort has raised over $5,000 as she navigates this challenging situation.
The unfolding investigation has raised many questions about child welfare, surrogacy practices, and the responsibilities of parents, particularly in cases involving parenting through surrogacy.
Authorities continue to seek more information to ensure the safety of the children involved in this disturbing case.
image source from：patch
