Surrogates from Texas to Florida believed they were carrying babies for a Southern California couple who faced infertility issues while trying to expand their family. It later emerged that these women were all working for the same couple.
In total, 21 children, ranging from just 2 months old to 13 years, have been placed in protective custody.
One surrogate, 27-year-old Kayla from Texas, explained her motivation for becoming an agent. “I enjoy being pregnant; it’s a wonderful experience. But since I’ve already raised my own family, I thought this could be a way to help others while enjoying that journey,” she shared.
Kayla connected with a couple through an agency named Mark Surrogacy, and after a successful embryo transfer via IVF, she gave birth on March 13th. However, just two months later, she was shocked to find out that the baby was no longer with the intended parents and had been placed with foster care.
“I honestly never thought that would happen. It’s hard to wrap your head around unless you’re going through it,” she reflected.
It was a further surprise for Kayla to discover that the baby she carried wasn’t the only child taken away; several others were also in protective custody.
KTLA spoke with three additional women who also claim to have surrogated for the same couple in Arcadia. One of them, who gave birth in Florida in June, experienced the tragic loss of her baby due to stillbirth.
According to reports, two deputies from Los Angeles County had their own experiences with the couple, delivering two babies in 2022.
The Arcadia home is listed as the address for Mark Surrogacy and Sylvia Chang. In early May, the police opened an investigation into child abuse after responding to reports concerning a 2-month-old baby who had suffered head injuries.
Authorities arrested the child’s legal parents, Zhang and Guojun Xuan, on May 9, suspecting felony child risk. They were later released.
Police allege the infant was abused by a nanny, and the parents delayed seeking medical help for two days. Following investigations, 21 children were removed from the couple’s custody by the Department of Children and Family Services.
Experts shared that the children’s ages extend from infants to teenagers, with the youngest being just 2 months old.
Public records reveal that Sylvia Zhang is recognized as the legal mother on all birth certificates associated with these children.
Mark Surrogacy has recently initiated paperwork to dissolve the agency. However, a surrogate from Pennsylvania, wishing to remain unnamed, disclosed she is currently pregnant through the same agency.
“I’m 26 weeks along, and this entire situation hit me hard once I learned more about it,” she told KTLA.
In a text, Zhang insisted that the accusations of fraud are unfounded and expressed eagerness to counter the claims through legal measures when the time is right.
The baby who was allegedly abused remains in the hospital. While the parents were apprehended, police have yet to locate the nanny implicated in the incident.
Authorities are currently examining other cases of potential abuse involving additional nannies and plan to present their findings to the district attorney shortly.
As for Kayla, she has started a fundraising campaign to help cover her legal expenses in her pursuit of custody for the baby she delivered. She mentioned being interviewed by the FBI regarding her situation.
Specialists in the surrogacy field emphasized the need for stricter regulations following this troubling case. The lack of federal laws surrounding surrogacy, combined with varying state regulations, complicates matters. In California, for instance, there is no licensing needed to initiate surrogacy arrangements.
