• A California couple has been charged with child endangerment and neglect after 21 children were removed from their home.
• The children, aged 2 months to 13 years, were mostly born through surrogacy, with allegations of deception made by surrogate mothers.
• A 2-month-old suffered significant head trauma, leading to the investigation and arrests.
• The couple's home was described as "hotel-like" and valued at around $4 million.
• Authorities are exploring potential legal ramifications related to the surrogacy practices involved.

A Southern California couple, Guojun Xuan, 65, and Silvia Zhang, 38, has been charged with child endangerment and neglect after 21 children, most of whom were reportedly born through surrogacy, were taken from their Arcadia home. The children, ranging in age from 2 months to 13 years, were removed following an incident where a 2-month-old was admitted to a local hospital with severe head trauma, believed to be a result of being violently shaken by a nanny, Chunmei Li, who is still at large. Fifteen of the children were taken into protective custody, while others were placed with friends or family. It is unclear if the couple intended to raise the children or seek other arrangements for them, as Zhang reportedly desired a large family, according to Indiatimes.

Investigators began looking into the couple after learning of the child's injury on May 7, which ultimately led them to realize there were multiple children in their care. Police retrieved surveillance footage suggesting that the couple was aware of the child's injuries but delayed seeking medical assistance. Zhang has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the officials misunderstood the situation. Meanwhile, authorities discovered that the couple seemed to have misled several surrogate mothers across the country regarding the surrogates’ awareness of each other, with reports indicating that many were unaware they were carrying embryos for the same couple. The couple’s legal ties to the children are uncertain, as many of the surrogates have started coming forward, according to Los Angeles Times.

As the investigation unfolds, the involvement of the FBI has been confirmed, particularly in relation to the potential fraudulent aspects of the surrogacy arrangements. The couple allegedly produced various birth certificates to establish their legal parentage, a practice that is now under scrutiny. Reports also surfaced about a company, Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC, associated with the couple that has since been terminated, indicating potential irregularities in their business practices. Lt. Kollin Cieadlo noted that more investigation was necessary to interpret the surrogacy laws and practices in this case, as stress and trauma affect both the children and the surrogate mothers involved, as reported by SFGate and Los Angeles Times.