Arcadia Couple Faces Charges in Alleged Surrogacy House of Horrors

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the residence as a house of horrors, noting that the couple allegedly instructed nannies to strike the children while ensuring no visible marks were left. Evidence presented in court included surveillance footage appearing to show Xuan directing a nanny to hit a child more forcefully and participating in the abuse himself. The children, ranging in age from two months to 13 years, were removed from the property last year following reports of a traumatic head injury sustained by an infant.

During a court appearance in Pasadena, the couple pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of child abuse and conspiracy. Prosecutors requested $100 million bail for each defendant, citing the couple’s access to vast financial resources—including $250 million in annual transfers—and their possession of multiple international passports. Defense attorney Mitchell Krems characterized the bail demand as absurd and attributed the abuse entirely to nannies, asserting that his clients’ intentions were to raise educated, productive members of society. Judge Kerry White ultimately set bail at $20 million each, ordering home detention and prohibiting the parents from contacting the children, who remain in state custody.