Shock twist as Yankees icon and wife are entangled in child sexual abuse lawsuit

Daily Mail​

02-05-2025

New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been added as named defendants in a bombshell child sexual abuse lawsuit that was first filed four months ago.
Back in January, Mariano and Clara were accused in the lawsuit of covering up child sexual abuse that occurred both at their home and a summer camp linked to their church, which was filed by a girl and her mother in State Supreme Court in Westchester County, New York.
The lawsuit, which alleges the plaintiff was abused by an older child at events connected to the church in Westchester County where the Riveras both serve as pastors, did not originally list them as defendants despite accusing them of failing to protect her.
Yet on Wednesday, Adam Horowitz, an attorney for the girl, said they have now been added in an amended court filing, according to ESPN.
It has been determined that Mariano, a baseball Hall of Famer, and Clara are not connected with Refuge of Hope - the church and limited liability company founded by the Riveras that was initially named in the suit.
The LLC is also believed to have included their former home address, which they sold back in 2022.
Rivera pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013 and captured five World Series titles
Despite being added as named defendants, Mariano and Clare have not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.
Joseph A. Ruta, an attorney for the Riveras, previously described allegations that they failed to act on reports of child abuse as 'completely false'.
Ruta added that they learned of the accusations in 2022 after receiving a letter from an attorney demanding a financial settlement.
The original suit claimed the plaintiff, identified only as 'Jane Doe', was convinced by Clara to go to Gainesville, Florida for a summer internship that the Ignite Life Center, which was affiliated with Refuge of Hope, was hosting.
While there Doe was allegedly abused by an older female camper, who was a minor at the time.
It's alleged Doe was repeatedly abused in the camp's dormitory and showers, with the older girl 'fondling and penetrating' her breasts, buttocks and genitals.
The lawsuit claims that when Doe's mother was informed about the alleged abuse, she contacted Clara - who is a senior pastor at the church - to tell her she was 'concerned' for her daughter's safety.
The mother was supposedly 'assured' by Clara that she would investigate when her and Mariano, a Baseball Hall of Famer, attended the camp themselves.
However, when they arrived, it's claimed both Mariano and Clara 'each separately isolated' Doe and 'intimidated her to remain silent' to 'avoid causing trouble' for the church and summer camp.
When the camp and internship had concluded, Doe claims she returned to New York and kept attending Refuge of Hope services.
However, according to the complaint, an alleged separate incident of abuse by the same older girl, took place in August 2018 at a barbecue that was hosted by the Riveras at their then $4million Rye, New York home. Parents were not invited.
The older girl was allegedly invited and 'once again sexually abused' Doe. It's claimed she 'engaged in acts that would constitute a sexual offense under Article 130 of the New York Penal Law', according to the filing.
Years later, in 2021, Doe was then allegedly sexually abused by the adult son of an associate pastor, who was working as a youth leader for the Refuge of Hope.
The Riveras 'falsely promoted their activities and premises as being safe, moral, and otherwise free of a risk of harm when it knew or should have known otherwise,' the lawsuit stated.
Rivera, 55, pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013 and won five World Series titles in The Bronx. He is regarded as one of the greatest-ever closers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.