Introduction to the Surrogacy Case
A woman who almost served as a surrogate for an Arcadia couple now under investigation by authorities said she backed out after the couple asked her if any of her friends would like to carry a child for them too. The request, as well as conflicting information she was getting, left the woman, Esperanza, unnerved, and she decided not to sign a surrogacy contract with Silvia Zhang, who offered her $60,000. Esperanza spoke to The Associated Press on the condition that her last name not be used because she has not shared her surrogacy experience publicly.
Background on the Couple and Their Surrogacy Practices
The home of Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan is seen on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif., where a number of children were removed from the couple’s home after a child abuse allegation in May, according to Arcadia police. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Zhang, 38, and her husband, Guojun Xuan, 65, are now the target of an investigation by local and federal authorities after their infant child was taken to the hospital with a traumatic head injury in May. Authorities have since taken 21 children from the couple’s custody, many of whom were born by surrogate, said Lt. Kollin Cieadlo of the Arcadia Police Department, near Los Angeles.
Surrogacy as an Agreement
Surrogacy is an agreement between parties for a woman to become pregnant, typically through an embryo transfer, and deliver a baby for the intended person or couple to raise. The children range in age from 2 months to 13 years, with most between 1 and 3.
Federal Authorities’ Role in Investigation
Esperanza is one of at least eight women who say they were aggressively pursued by the couple to serve as surrogates. The women, many of whom were first-time surrogates, say they were given misleading or incomplete information about the couple’s family situation and intentions. Some, like Esperanza, did not move forward with carrying a child for the couple. Another who did, Kayla Elliott, is now trying to get custody of a baby she birthed in March for the couple.
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Silvia Zhang, 38, of Arcadia was arrested May 9, 2025 on suspicion of child endangerment after her 2-month-old baby was shaken by a nanny and ended up in a hospital. She has not been charged. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services took her 21 other children. (Photo courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department)
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Arcadia police say the FBI is involved in the investigation over whether the couple misled surrogates around the country. The FBI has not confirmed its investigation. Elliott said she was interviewed by the FBI at the end of May.
Injured Infant Draws Concern
Zhang and Xuan were arrested in May after a hospital reported that their 2-month-old infant had a traumatic head injury, the result of a nanny at the home violently shaking the baby, according to Arcadia police. Arcadia police did not file charges at the time, in order to finish a full investigation, Cieadlo said, and detectives were looking into possible child abuse charges and anticipated presenting a case in a few weeks.
Potential Surrogate Backs Out
Esperanza’s dealings with Zhang began in 2023. She had posted in a Facebook group for people interested in surrogacy and received a message from Zhang. Zhang said she and her partner already had an 8-year-old daughter in China but were having fertility issues. Zhang said she was working with a surrogate who was already pregnant but that she wanted “twins,” so she was pursuing a second surrogate. But Esperanza said things started to feel amiss after Zhang asked if she had any friends who also wanted to be surrogates.
Surrogate Who Wants Custody of Child
Elliott gave birth to a baby girl in March. She chose to be a surrogate because she “really wanted to give somebody a family.” The Texas woman began the process when Mark Surrogacy reached out to her directly on Facebook. She signed a contract listing Xuan and Zhang as the intended parents. The contract said Elliott would receive $65,000 in a series of payments by the end of her 16th gestational week.
Conclusion
The case of Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan has brought to light concerns about surrogacy practices and the potential for exploitation of surrogates. The investigation into the couple’s activities is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what consequences they will face. In the meantime, the safety and well-being of the 21 children who were removed from their custody remain the top priority.
FAQs
Q: How many children were removed from the couple’s custody?
A: 21 children were removed from the couple’s custody.
Q: Why were the children removed?
A: The children were removed after a hospital reported that one of the couple’s infants had a traumatic head injury, and an investigation into possible child abuse was launched.
Q: Are the
