Logan Gifford was just 10 years old when his mother, Doreene, sexually abused him for the first time. The abuse spiraled into a seven-year campaign that ended only when Logan reported her to police at 17. But his nightmare didn't stop there: speaking to a therapist, he was asked a stomach-churning question—could his younger brother, born during the abuse, actually be his biological son?
The Abuse Begins
Logan's trauma started in 2008 when he was asked to stay up late and led to his mother's room. 'The door was locked behind me and I turned the corner and I saw a [adult] film playing on the television,' he said. 'She then began to expose herself and I was sexually assaulted by her for the first time that evening.' As the years went on, his 'not well' mother 'became more ill and more sinister.' He recalled being taken to abandoned houses and involved with narcotics and cigarettes.
A Devastating Question
Growing up, Logan believed his younger brother—born in 2009—was the product of an alleged affair between Doreene and a co-worker. A therapist suggested DNA testing. 'I always got told to f*** off,' Logan said of approaching his father, so he 'stopped fighting and had to wait to do it the right way.' After his mother was imprisoned, Logan pursued the truth. DNA tests showed a 99.9% match to the sibling, but it remains unclear whether Logan or his father is the biological parent.
A Tragic Loss
Logan described his brother's birth as 'traumatic,' with a severe lack of oxygen causing developmental issues. In 2013, while the family had a pool, Logan was sexually assaulted again after going inside. The next morning, his father told him to check the pool. Logan found his three-year-old brother floating face down; he had drowned. Child Protective Services investigated, and Logan confessed everything to a therapist. In 2015, he reported his mother to the police.
Justice and DNA Tests
Doreene was convicted of attempted sexual assault and lewdness with a child under 14 and sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison after an Alford plea in 2015. She served nine years. In January 2025, Logan filed a paternity case. An advanced DNA test was inconclusive, but both Logan and his father matched 99.9% to the sibling. In September 2025, a Clark County judge awarded Logan temporary custody of the teenager after his father failed to respond. The judge recommended further genetic testing.
Life After Abuse
Logan said the therapist's question made his 'stomach just sank.' He is now fundraising for an advanced genetic test. 'The [relationship] we have is complex, but I love that kid to death like every day. I'd do anything for him.' He now has a seven-month-old daughter, and recalled his brother asking, 'Is this my niece or is this my sister?' Logan said a 'small piece of [him] dies every single time.' He added, 'As a girl dad, I can either be my daughter's first love or first heartbreak and that's important to me.'
