‘HOUSE OF HORRORS’ — COUPLE ACCUSED OF WATCHING NANNIES ABUSE CHILDREN ON 32 CAMERAS

California couple with 21 children faces child-abuse charges after prosecutors say disturbing surveillance footage captured repeated abuse inside their Arcadia mansion

A California couple at the center of a sprawling surrogacy investigation has been arrested and charged after prosecutors accused them of allowing — and in some cases participating in — the alleged physical abuse of children inside their Arcadia mansion.

Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were taken into custody on Tuesday, October 6, following a 17-month investigation into the household and its surrogacy operation.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the property as a “house of horrors.”

Authorities allege that at least 14 surrogate-born children were subjected to repeated physical abuse while living in the home.

The couple have pleaded not guilty and deny the allegations.

THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN WITH A BABY

The case began to draw serious attention in May 2025, when authorities became involved after a two-month-old boy was taken to hospital with a traumatic head injury.

According to prosecutors, a nanny named Chunmei Li allegedly struck the infant.

Authorities say the couple did not seek medical treatment until two days later and allegedly told medical staff that the baby had fallen from a bed.

The incident prompted investigators to look more closely at what was happening inside the Arcadia property.

Li has separately been charged with felony child abuse and remains at large, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. A $105,000 arrest warrant has been issued for her.

32 CAMERAS INSIDE THE MANSION

What investigators allegedly discovered inside the home became central to the case.

Prosecutors say the mansion contained 32 motion-activated surveillance cameras monitoring different areas where children and nannies spent time.

The couple allegedly used a television near their desk to watch live footage from the cameras.

The children reportedly spent hours each day in several rooms described as learning centers, where nannies were responsible for their care and discipline.

According to the criminal complaint, footage collected over an 11-day period between April 27 and May 7, 2025 allegedly showed nannies spanking, slapping or hitting children.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE PARENTS WATCHED

Some of the most disturbing allegations concern what prosecutors say happened while the couple were watching the surveillance feeds.

In one alleged incident, a nanny struck a child with a shoe. Prosecutors say Zhang and Li laughed while watching the footage.

In another incident, prosecutors allege that Xuan entered a classroom and told a nanny to hit a child harder.

He is then accused of striking the child himself.

The allegations also include claims that children were taken into a room without a surveillance camera, where investigators say screams could be heard.

Authorities have emphasized that these are allegations contained in the criminal case and have not been proven in court.

A HOME FILLED WITH CHILDREN

The scale of the household has also attracted national attention.

Authorities say Xuan and Zhang had at least 21 children, most of whom were born through surrogacy.

Fifteen children were removed from the Arcadia home during the investigation, while another six were located elsewhere.

The children ranged in age from approximately two months to 13 years old, with many of them toddlers.

The couple also operated a surrogacy business.

Prosecutors allege that they made false or misleading statements to at least two women who became surrogates, including allegedly telling them that Zhang was struggling to conceive.

The broader circumstances surrounding the surrogacy operation remain under investigation.

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE ABUSE

Investigators also accuse the couple of trying to prevent authorities from learning what had allegedly happened.

According to prosecutors, Xuan and Zhang allegedly told some of the children to deny that nannies had beaten them.

Zhang is also accused of telling one nanny to hide sticks allegedly used to strike children.

The couple now face charges including conspiracy to commit child abuse and accessory-after-the-fact allegations, while Xuan also faces a direct child-abuse charge and multiple witness-dissuasion counts.

COUPLE PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Xuan and Zhang appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty.

Their attorney, Mitchell Krems, has said Xuan is innocent and argued that the alleged wrongdoing was committed by a nanny who is now on the run.

The defense has also disputed the prosecution’s characterization of Xuan and Zhang’s role in the children’s care.

Prosecutors initially sought extremely high bail because of the seriousness of the allegations and concerns about the couple’s wealth and possible flight risk.

A judge ultimately set bail at $20 million each, according to ABC7.

THE CHILDREN REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF THE CASE

For investigators, the biggest unanswered questions now concern what happened inside the mansion, how long the alleged abuse continued and how many people may have been involved.

Authorities are also continuing to investigate the couple’s surrogacy business and the circumstances under which the children were born and raised.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said the investigation remains active.

For now, the allegations have shocked the community because of the sheer number of children involved — and because prosecutors say much of the alleged abuse was captured by a surveillance system inside the very home where the children were supposed to be protected.

THE CASE IS ONLY BEGINNING

The images and allegations emerging from the Arcadia mansion have drawn national attention, but the legal case is still at an early stage.

Xuan and Zhang remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

As investigators continue examining the surveillance footage, the surrogacy operation and the conduct of the caregivers, the children who were removed from the home remain at the heart of a case that authorities say is unlike anything they have previously encountered.