Logan Gifford was just 10 years old when his mother, Doreene, sexually abused him for the first time in 2008. The abuse continued for seven years until Logan reported her to the police at age 17. But the nightmare did not end there. During therapy, a therapist asked a chilling question: Could Logan's younger brother, born during the abuse, actually be his biological son?
Abuse and a Brother's Birth
Logan, now 28, grew up believing his younger brother was the product of an alleged affair between Doreene and a co-worker. The brother, born in 2009 and legally unnamed, was treated as such. The abuse began when Logan 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 passed, Doreene's behavior worsened. Logan recalled being taken to abandoned houses where narcotics and cigarettes were involved. 'I should have been in school doing homework,' he said. During this period, Doreene fell pregnant with another child. The birth was traumatic, with the baby suffering a severe lack of oxygen leading to long-term developmental issues. Logan was tasked with caring for his younger brother as both parents were not functioning.
The Tragic Turning Point
In 2013, a tragic accident occurred. The family bought a $600 above-ground pool. After playing in the pool, Logan went inside and was sexually assaulted again. He locked himself in the bathroom and cried to sleep. The next morning, his father told him to check the pool. Logan found his younger brother, Liam, then three years old, floating face down. Liam had drowned.
Child Protective Services investigated and provided Logan with a therapist. He confessed everything and in 2015 reported his mother to the police. Doreene was convicted of attempted sexual assault and lewdness with a child under 14. She took an Alford plea deal—where a defendant pleads guilty while maintaining innocence—and was sentenced to 8 to 20 years in prison. She served nine years.
DNA Tests and Custody
With his mother imprisoned, Logan pursued DNA tests. In January 2025, he filed a paternity case asking a judge to order advanced DNA testing. The test was inconclusive, but Logan and his father, Theodore, both matched 99.9% to the sibling, meaning either could be the biological father. In September 2025, a Clark County judge in Nevada awarded Logan temporary custody of the teenager after his father failed to respond. The judge recommended further genetic testing to determine paternity.
Speaking on the Key Witness: Aftermath podcast, Logan said: 'The therapist I had confided to at the time was the one who asked me outright to get a DNA test. And my stomach just sank. It was the first time I sat down to talk to anybody about it.' He added: 'They have to break it down to the genome and molecular level and those things cost thousands of dollars.' Logan is now fundraising for an advanced genetic test.
Impact on Family
Logan described the complex relationship with his brother: 'The [relationship] we have is complex, but I love that kid to death like every day. I'd do anything for him.' The abuse has left a harrowing mark. Logan has a seven-month-old daughter, and his brother once asked: 'Is this my niece or is this my sister?' Logan said that question 'hurt' and that a 'small piece of [him] dies every single time he asks a question like that.'
Despite the trauma, Logan has found meaning in fatherhood. 'As a girl dad, I can either be my daughter's first love or first heartbreak,' he said. 'Being sure I uphold to that standard, being kind to everyone, leaving things in a better place and finding justice and being honourable and honest. It's not rocket science, but if you do the small things well, you'll be okay – you'll be a decent person.' He added: 'Family life now is exciting and watching my daughter and brother interact has been the greatest blessing. We are doing our very best to recover and continue to support our children.'
