Beloved Yankees legend accused of covering up minor’s sexual abuse

New York Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, have been named in a lawsuit that alleges they covered up the sexual abuse of a minor — at a summer camp and their home.

In a lawsuit filed on Jan. 16 in the Supreme Court of Westchester County and obtained by the Gainesville Public Information Services (GnvInfo) and the Independent, the Riveras have been accused of ”being negligent in their supervision and allegedly failing to act upon learning that a young girl from their church was being sexually abused.” They’ve also been sued for “premises liability” at their church and former home, according to GnvInfo.

Rivera, who pitched for the Yankees from 1995-2013 and recorded 652 saves while a fan favorite, is a pastor at Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, New York, according to the Independent. Clara oversees the day-to-day operations, and according to both outlets, citing the complaint, she persuaded the young girl’s mom to send her daughter to the summer camp that was tied to the Riveras’ church.

Via the Independent:

According to the filing in the civil case, the plaintiff – known as “Jane Doe” – claims she was sexually abused by an older minor girl – anonymised as “MG” during a summer internship in 2018 at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, which was supported by Rivera’s church.

The abuse allegedly continued at a barbeque hosted at the couple’s former Brook View property in Rye, New York, in August 2018 before it was sold in June 2022 according to the complaint.

The Riveras, Life Center and Ignite Life Center have not responded to the Independent’s request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, after the alleged victim’s mother became concerned for her daughter’s well-being after one phone call, she relayed her concerns to Clara Rivera, who promised to investigate the matter. The Riveras traveled to Florida for the summer camp, where they “learned or should have learned” information about the alleged sexual abuse, the lawsuit states.

“Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe (the victim), the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG (the suspect) to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship.”

The Riveras lied to the minor’s mother, according to Gainesville Public Information Services, citing the lawsuit.

The girl returned to Refuge of Hope after the internship, the Independent wrote, before the alleged abuse continued at Riveras’ former home during a barbecue that included the church’s children but no parents, according to Gainesville Public Information Services. The Riveras left the minor with “MG” during the event, according to the lawsuit.

Via Gainesville Public Information Services:

“Upon information and belief, [the] defendants’ failure to take corrective action in response to the 2018 allegations at the Ignite Summer Internship was consistent with an established and ongoing modus operandi by [the] defendants’ to handle allegations of sexual abuse internally so to avoid scrutiny, public scandal, and potential financial losses from allegations of child sexual abuse becoming public information.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Related Posts

🚨 BREAKING mets pull off jaw-dropping trade sending 37-home run slugger to angels for prospect jonah tong the deal shocks both fanbases and sets the stage for a seismic shakeup that could rewrite the power balance in the league before anyone fully processes it..ll 👇👇👇

The New York Mets continue to face pressing questions about their outfield as the 2026 MLB Spring Training approaches, with just six weeks remaining to finalize roster…

🚨 WHITE SOX REVIVAL: Munetaka Murakami and a Young Core Make the White Sox Worth Watching Again — Could This New Energy Lead to a Playoff Push? Fans Are Thrilled About the Future of This Rebuilt Team! 👇

🚨 CHICAGO WHITE SOX TURNING THE PAGE: MURAKAMI ADDS FIREPOWER TO YOUNG CORE AND A REBUILDING TEAM TO WATCH IN 2026 👇 For Chicago White Sox fans,…

🚨 TRADE ALERT: Braves and Rays Make (Less Than) Blockbuster Trade — Could This Surprising Move Shore Up Both Teams’ Rosters or Is It Just a Minor Adjustment? Fans Are Scratching Their Heads, Wondering What’s Really Behind This Deal! 👇

🚨 ATLANTA BRAVES TRADE WITH RAYS: Wisely and Waldichuk Sent Packing for Cash or Player to Be Named Later 👇 In a surprising move, the Atlanta Braves…

🚨 MLB HALL OF FAME UPDATE: Braves Legend Andruw Jones Receives Major Update in Hall of Fame Voting — Could This Be the Year He Finally Secures His Spot Among Baseball’s Greatest? Fans Are On Edge, Awaiting the Final Decision! 👇

🚨 ANDRUW JONES CLOSING IN ON HALL OF FAME: A LEGEND’S JOURNEY AND A STANDOUT PEAK 👇 For Atlanta Braves fans, the legacy of Andruw Jones is…

🚨 MLB RUMOR: Red Sox Linked to 3-Time All-Star Free Agent — Could This Major Signing Boost Boston’s Roster and Push Them Back into Championship Contention? Fans Are Buzzing About the Potential Move! 👇

🚨 BOSTON RED SOX AIM FOR BIG MOVES: J.T. Realmuto Joins the Target List After Losing Bregman 👇 After losing Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in…

🚨 MLB INSIDER ALERT: Concerning Update on Bo Bichette for Red Sox — Could This New Development Impact Boston’s Plans or Shake Up Their Roster for the Upcoming Season? Fans Are Watching Closely for the Full Story! 👇

🚨 BOSTON RED SOX TURN TO BO BICHETTE AFTER BREGMAN LOSS, PHILLIES EMERGE AS FAVORITES 👇 The Boston Red Sox may have to quickly pivot after losing…