Mariano Rivera Named in Lawsuit Over Alleged Child Abuse

WHITE PLAINS, New York — Former MLB closer Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed by a girl and her mother. The suit claims that the girl was sexually abused by an older child in 2018 during events connected to the Riveras’ church, Refuge of Hope.

The lawsuit was initially filed in January in Westchester County Supreme Court without naming the Riveras as defendants. However, it alleged that they failed to protect the girl. The Riveras were added in an amended filing on Wednesday, following a determination that they were not connected to a limited liability company that was originally named in the suit.

Adam Horowitz, the attorney representing the girl, stated that the core details of the lawsuit remain unchanged. The Riveras have not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Joseph A. Ruta, the attorney for the Riveras, called the allegations false, insisting the couple was unaware of any abuse until they received a settlement request in 2022. Clara Rivera, who is a senior pastor at Refuge of Hope, recommended that the girl attend a summer camp internship in Florida in 2018, according to the original complaint in the lawsuit. It claims that the camp required children to stay “without parental supervision.”

The lawsuit states that the girl, born in 2007, was repeatedly sexually abused by an older camper during her time at Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, and later at the Riveras’ home in Rye, New York. The girl’s mother became concerned about her daughter’s safety after a phone call from her daughter, prompting her to contact Clara Rivera.

Following the mother’s concerns, Clara Rivera assured her that she would investigate the matter. However, the lawsuit alleges that the Riveras intimidated the girl during their visits to Florida, trying to silence her about the abuse.

In addition, the lawsuit highlights that during a barbecue at the Riveras’ home in New York, the girl was again left unsupervised with the same older child, leading to further abuse. In 2021, the complaint alleges that the girl was sexually assaulted by a male youth leader at Refuge of Hope, discovered by her mother through their communications.

The Associated Press reported earlier that Ignite Life Center had previously settled lawsuits from three other individuals who claimed abuse by a volunteer. Additionally, two people affiliated with the church were charged with lewd acts against minors. Refuge of Hope was founded by the Riveras in 2009, initially using their home as a gathering space.

Mariano Rivera is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and is celebrated as one of the greatest closers in MLB history, having spent his entire career with the New York Yankees.