California surrogacy case leaves 21 children in state custody as parents face abuse charges

A California couple, Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang, were arrested this week on conspiracy and child-abuse charges related to the treatment of 21 children, most of whom were born to surrogates, after a raid on their Arcadia mansion in July 2025. Prosecutors allege the parents conspired to allow repeated physical abuse of children under four, monitored through a network of 32 cameras, and described the home as a "house of horrors." Both defendants have pleaded not guilty and are being held on a $20 million bond.

The children were placed in state custody shortly after the raid, and California law requires a court hearing within 72 hours of removal. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is working to place the children with relatives, foster families, or communal settings, with an emphasis on finding permanent, safe homes. "We always want to move towards that permanency, them having a permanent place to be and to grow in a healthy, safe environment is really, you know, the priority," said Christina Paddock, an associate professor of social work at USC.

Surrogates who carried the children have expressed uncertainty about the future. One surrogate, Vanity McGoveran, said she felt relief at the arrests but did not want further details. Another, Maria Castellanos, who gave birth to two of the children, is pursuing foster-parent certification in hopes of caring for them, noting the process is more demanding than surrogacy.

Legal experts say surrogates generally lack parental rights, making adoption or foster-care routes difficult. "I don't see any reason surrogates shouldn't apply to foster these children," said USC law professor Scott Altman, adding that if the parents' rights are terminated, surrogates could seek adoption after becoming foster parents.

The parents have filed lawsuits against the surrogates in an effort to regain custody, but the children remain under state protection. A lawyer for the children declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.