Sep 15, 2026 · 56 min
Surrogates uncover a secretive operation involving 21 children
Introducing: “The Journey,” from In the Dark
The episode examines how contracts, agencies, and unresponsive authorities left pregnant surrogates struggling to protect children amid allegations of abuse.
- 1Kayla Elliott’s surrogacy leads her to discover that numerous women carried children for the same wealthy couple.
- 2Surrogates learn the couple had approximately 21 children, most under three, after an arrest on suspicion of child endangerment.
- 3Stacey King faces a stark choice between honoring her contract and protecting a baby amid alleged abuse and institutional inaction.
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After learning of alleged abuse, Stacey King prepares to bring her surrogate baby home rather than hand her over.
The brief
Kayla Elliott enters surrogacy to help an infertile couple and support her family, but limited communication and serious medical complications complicate the pregnancy.
After giving birth, Kayla learns the intended parents may have used numerous surrogates. Her viral TikTok connects women who carried children for the same couple without knowing one another.
The surrogates uncover evidence of an operation involving approximately 21 children, most under three, placed in temporary foster care after the couple’s arrest.
Pregnant surrogate Stacey King seeks help from lawyers, police, the FBI, and child-welfare agencies, but officials struggle to intervene before the baby is born.
Reports describing a hospitalized baby and alleged abuse by nannies push Stacey toward bringing her surrogate baby home, despite having no biological claim.