Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara named in bombshell child sexual abuse lawsuit filed in New York after allegations of covering up abuse at church-linked camp

One of baseball’s most iconic names, Mariano Rivera, is now facing serious legal scrutiny—but not for anything that happened on the field.

Rivera, best known as the legendary closer for the New York Yankees, has been officially named—alongside his wife Clara—as a defendant in a deeply troubling child sexual abuse lawsuit unfolding in New York.

Allegations Surface Around Church-Linked Abuse

The lawsuit originally filed in January didn’t list the Riveras by name, though it alleged they failed to prevent child sexual abuse tied to church events.

The claims come from a girl, referred to only as “Jane Doe,” and her mother, who allege the abuse occurred both at the Riveras’ home and at a Florida summer camp linked to their church activities.

The church at the center of it all is located in Westchester County, New York, where both Mariano and Clara Rivera serve as pastors.

While the lawsuit initially targeted the church, new legal developments have now pulled the couple directly into the case.

Amended Filing Now Names Rivera Couple

According to attorney Adam Horowitz, the Riveras were officially added as named defendants this week in an amended court filing, as reported by ESPN.

Despite their leadership roles, it was previously determined that the couple wasn’t directly connected to Refuge of Hope—the church and limited liability company involved—though it had previously included their home address in legal documents.

The Riveras have not been charged criminally. Their attorney, Joseph A. Ruta, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and called the claims that they failed to act on reports of abuse “completely false.”

He added that the couple first became aware of the allegations in 2022 when an attorney reached out seeking a financial settlement.

Disturbing Details From Florida Summer Camp

The heart of the lawsuit centers on a summer internship Jane Doe participated in back in 2018, held in Gainesville, Florida, through the Ignite Life Center—a program reportedly affiliated with Refuge of Hope.

According to the complaint, Clara allegedly convinced the girl to attend.

Once there, Doe claims she was sexually abused by an older female camper who was also underage.

The abuse allegedly happened repeatedly in the dormitories and showers.

The lawsuit describes graphic allegations of the older girl fondling and penetrating the young plaintiff.

Alleged Inaction and Intimidation by the Riveras

When the victim’s mother raised concerns with Clara Rivera, she claims Clara assured her she would look into it when she and Mariano came to visit the camp.

But instead of protecting the girl, the lawsuit alleges that the Riveras separately confronted her and pressured her to stay quiet—supposedly to avoid causing issues for the church and camp.

The girl continued to attend the church even after returning home to New York, but the alleged abuse didn’t stop there.

Another Incident at the Riveras’ Home in New York

A second incident is claimed to have happened in August 2018, at a barbecue hosted by the Riveras at their multimillion-dollar home in Rye, New York.

Parents were reportedly not invited, and the same older girl who abused Doe in Florida was allegedly invited and once again sexually assaulted the plaintiff.

This time, the actions described in the complaint reportedly meet the criteria for a sexual offense under New York law.

New Accusations in 2021 Involving a Church Youth Leader

Years later, in 2021, Jane Doe claims she was again abused—this time by the adult son of an associate pastor who worked as a youth leader at the same church.

This added layer has intensified the allegations, pointing to systemic failure by church leadership to protect vulnerable children in their care.

Lawsuit Says the Riveras Misrepresented Safety

The lawsuit accuses the Riveras of falsely portraying their home, their church, and their youth programs as safe environments.

Instead, it argues they “knew or should have known” of the risks and dangers that were present all along.

Mariano Rivera’s Legacy and Public Profile

Mariano Rivera, now 55, is widely considered one of the greatest closers in baseball history.

He pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013, earning five World Series titles and becoming the first player unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Outside of baseball, Rivera is also known for his political ties.

He has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump since his first presidential run in 2016.