A man who was sexually assaulted by his mother during his childhood and suspects he might be the biological father of his brother has been granted legal guardianship over his sibling, according to a recent court ruling.
Logan Gifford, aged 26, informed the court that he believes his 16-year-old brother could be his own son, although DNA tests have not provided conclusive results.
In 2015, Logan’s mother, Doreene Gifford, was convicted of the assault against him and received a sentence of eight to 20 years in prison. Currently, she is a registered sex offender on parole residing in Massachusetts, as stated by Logan’s attorney, Timothy Treffinger.
Living in Nevada and working for Governor Joe Lombardo, Logan shared with the court that he suspects his disabled younger sibling may have been conceived as a result of the abuse he endured, raising the possibility that the boy is his biological child.
Earlier this year, Logan initiated a paternity case, seeking an advanced DNA test to determine the boy’s true father between himself and his father, Theodore Gifford. However, the test results proved inconclusive, with both Logan and Theodore showing a 99.9% match to the child.
During the proceedings, Family Court Judge Vincent Ochoa pointed out that since Theodore declined to take part in the legal process, the court’s options were limited. Consequently, Judge Ochoa decided to grant legal fatherhood to Logan, given the circumstances.
At the hearing, Doreene Gifford mentioned her belief that Theodore was the father but expressed a desire to end the case due to its toll on her mental and emotional well-being.
Logan’s lawyer, Timothy Treffinger, informed the court that no further testing avenues were available, leading to a scientific deadlock in the case.
After the ruling, Logan expressed relief and a readiness to move on, emphasizing the closure brought by the decision. He aims to empower other male survivors of childhood sexual abuse by sharing his story publicly.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, remember that support is available. Organizations like Rape Crisis offer assistance 24/7 at 0808 500 2222.
