Las Vegas man thinks his brother might be his son after years of mother’s abuse

Content warning: This article describes incest and child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.

A 26‑year‑old Nevada man, Logan Gifford, has revealed a deeply troubling family situation after alleging that his mother, Doreene Gifford, repeatedly sexually abused him during childhood. Logan now says that his 15‑year‑old younger brother may be his biological son.

Logan’s 2015 allegations

In 2015, Logan came forward to report the abuse, which he said began when he was about 10 and continued for several years. During that period, his mother gave birth to his younger brother, raising the possibility that the boy may be the result of the abuse.

In 2015, Logan’s mom, Doreene, accepted an Alford plea to charges including attempted sexual assault and incest, and was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. She also remains on Nevada’s sex offender registry. She was released on parole in July 2024, but later violated no‑contact conditions and has since reportedly relocated to Massachusetts.

An Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty while still maintaining their innocence, acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict.

Logan has since taken on full-time caregiving responsibilities for his younger brother, who faces cognitive challenges. He has publicly shared his story to raise awareness about male survivors of sexual abuse and to seek legal and financial support, including through a GoFundMe campaign.

DNA testing and custody

According to Vegas news outlet KLAS, in 2025, Logan filed a paternity petition in Clark County Family Court to determine the boy’s biological father. A standard DNA test showed a 99.9 percent match between the child and both Logan and their biological father. Because both biological fathers and full siblings share approximately 50% of their DNA with a child, the result cannot definitively determine paternity.

During a July 31 court hearing, Judge Vincent Ochoa described the result as unsurprising given the genetic overlap. Still, he granted Logan temporary custody of the teenager. The judge also recommended more advanced genetic testing to clarify paternity.

Legal experts have emphasized that resolving such a case requires specialized genetic analysis beyond routine paternity tests, which Logan has said he will pursue and continue seeking custody regardless of the outcome. He emphasized that the truth is needed for the teen’s best interests, not just for himself.

Though the DNA results so far are inconclusive, Logan remains committed to securing his brother’s future and helping him have a stable, peaceful life. He also hopes sharing his story will help other survivors of male sexual abuse feel less alone.

If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673