From The New Yorker · Ava Kofman · · 3m
Child Abuse Case Unveiled
Los Angeles couple arrested for child abuse in home of 27 children.
In brief
Los Angeles couple arrested for child abuse in home of 27 children. Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang, Chinese immigrants, face child abuse charges after surveillance footage revealed nannies beating infants in their Arcadia mansion. Originally reported by The New Yorker.
Arrest of Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang
Los Angeles deputies arrested Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang at their Arcadia mansion at 8:45 a.m. on October 6.
L.A. District Attorney's Warning
L.A. district attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as 'incredibly disturbing' and 'unprecedented child abuse'.
Mark Surrogacy Agency
The couple operated Mark Surrogacy, an agency they used to recruit surrogate mothers across the country.
27 Children in Home of Horrors
The couple had 27 children, most infants and toddlers, living in a house described as 'a house of horrors'.
Surveillance Footage of Abuse
Thirty-two cameras captured nannies beating children with hands, sticks, and shoes.
Parents Laughing at Abuse
Videos showed the parents laughing at CCTV footage of the beatings in their home office.
Charges of Child Abuse
Prosecutors charged the couple with conspiracy to commit child abuse and Guojun with participating in abuse.
Previous Hospitalization
In May 2025, a two-month-old child was hospitalized with bleeding inside his brain.
First Arrest Details
After four days in custody, the parents were released following a request for more investigation from Arcadia police.
Continued Surrogacy Activities
The couple had six more babies through surrogates while under scrutiny from police and child-welfare systems.
Custody Battles
They launched custody battles in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Georgia to bring infants to California.
Breach of Contract Lawsuits
The parents sued surrogates for breach of contract, demanding one million dollars in damages.
Parents' Claim of Misunderstanding
The couple maintained their arrest was a misunderstanding and their family would soon be reunited.
Surrogate Exposed on TikTok
Kayla Elliott, a surrogate who first exposed the scheme on TikTok, texted a group chat of other surrogates.
Arraignment in Pasadena
Silvia entered court wearing an oversized white T-shirt and black pants; Guojun was in a wheelchair, bald, with a medical port.
Bail Requested at $100 Million
A deputy district attorney requested bail of $100 million for each defendant, citing the couple's extraordinary resources.
Bail Reduced to $20 Million
The judge set bail at $20 million with conditions: electronic monitoring, restricted home access, and surrender of passports.
Surrogates' Concerns
Surrogates expressed concern about the children's well-being and hoped for contact with foster parents.
Here's the gist
Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang, Chinese immigrants, face child abuse charges after surveillance footage revealed nannies beating infants in their Arcadia mansion.
