AFTER a decade of uncertainty, pain and torment, Logan Gifford can now call himself the father of his younger brother.
Logan, 27, was raped by his depraved mother at the age of 10 and forced to live through almost seven years of sexual abuse – which only stopped when his mum fell pregnant.
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When mum Doreene gave birth, speculation around who the father was quickly swirled.
Doreene – who was convicted of sexual assault, incest and lewdness in 2015 – claimed it was from an affair she had had away from Logan’s dad Ted.
But it wasn’t until Logan was in high school that he started to unravel the disturbing potential reality of his family tree.
Wanting to secure justice for both himself and his younger sibling, Logan became locked in a custody battle over the boy – who was living with his father Ted.
Logan wanted to find out who was the true father and if it was him to support the 15-year-old as much as possible.
After months of uncertainty and DNA tests, Logan has now officially been declared the teen’s dad in a Nevada court.
Speaking to The Sun on the verdict, Logan said: “The legal determination was made through the court process, but the biological and emotional realities remain deeply intertwined and unresolved.
“My goal has never been about winning a legal argument — it has always been about protecting my brother and ensuring the truth is fully known.”
The Las Vegas local has been trying to uncover the truth for years after he put Doreene behind bars in 2015 for the abuse.
As he battled to overcome the mental scars of his childhood, Logan started therapy.
It was during one of these sessions that he was asked about the possibility that he could be the father of his brother due to the years of abuse.
Logan said his brother went through a “complex” birth as he was deprived of oxygen and “came out purple”.
His brother went through years of speech and physical therapy and continues to struggle with a range of cognitive difficulties, requiring support at home and school.
Children born as a result of incest face a much higher risk of genetic disorders and disabilities due to the increased likelihood of inheriting recessive genetic mutations.
This case stems from a lifetime of trauma and abuse – circumstances no child or family should ever have to endure
Logan Gifford
Babies who are starved of oxygen can develop Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy, which causes brain injuries and can lead to disabilities such as cerebral palsy, seizures and developmental issues.
Logan has long battled with the idea that he may have been the reason for his brother’s disabilities – due to his incestuous conception.
Logan said: “This case stems from a lifetime of trauma and abuse – circumstances no child or family should ever have to endure.
“My parents did my brother, who is disabled, a disservice in not fully understanding why he was born the way he was.”
The court’s decision allows Logan to claim custody for his brother – but his father, Ted, has not completed a DNA test yet.
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Logan explained: “The DNA testing that was conducted produced results showing that I was not ruled out as his biological father.
“At the same time, Ted – the man who was presumed to be the biological father – defaulted, meaning he declined to participate in the process and failed to appear.
“As a result, the judge issued a ruling based on the available evidence and that default.
“This outcome highlights how complex and painful this case truly is.”
A few years after the abuse ended, Logan decided to report his mum to the police.
Questions still remain over the Gifford family tree but Logan says he is happy to finally be recognised as his brother’s dad by law.
His focus will now turn to supporting the boy as much as possible.
Logan said: “I remain steadfast in my commitment to my brother’s safety, therapy, education, and emotional well-being.
“While this chapter has been extraordinarily painful, I believe in transparency and accountability.
“I am speaking out because I know other families have lived through similar silence and confusion.
“I know how difficult this story is to read, and even harder to live through but I believe that only through honesty and courage can we build something better — for my brother, for survivors, and for anyone still waiting to be heard.”
While this chapter has been extraordinarily painful, I believe in transparency and accountability
Logan Gifford
A few years after the abuse ended, Logan decided to report his mum to the police.
He said the decision to tear the family apart came when he realised he would be able to look after and support his brothers now he had reached 18.
Doreene was convicted in 2015 of sexual assault, incest and lewdness with a child under 14, according to court documents.
She was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison after taking a plea deal.
Despite being convicted, she has maintained her innocence and has since been released as a registered sex offender after less than a decade behind bars.
At the time, Logan believed he had dealt with the biggest problem in his life by putting his mother behind bars.
Logan is now committed to pursuing additional genetic testing in the hopes of continuing to uncover the truth.
Despite a harrowing childhood and still many unanswered questions, Logan is now looking forward to starting his own family alongside his brother.
He is expecting a baby girl in October with his wife.
Logan is currently the Executive Director of Repair The Vote PAC and has been involved in US politics since 2020.
His top achievement is spearheading a voter ID ballot initiative in 2024, which secured over 180,000 signatures and 70 per cent of voter approval.
How to report a sexual assault
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