White Plains, New York – Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit brought by a young girl and her mother. The lawsuit alleges that the girl suffered sexual abuse at events linked to the Riveras’ church, Refuge of Hope, in 2018.
Initially filed in January in Westchester County Supreme Court, the lawsuit did not explicitly list the Riveras as defendants, instead focusing on the church and a limited liability company connected to their former property. However, following new developments, the Riveras’ names were included in an amended filing this week after it was confirmed they had no ties to the LLC, according to Adam Horowitz, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. Details of the allegations remain largely unchanged.
Rivera and his wife have not faced any criminal charges related to the accusations. Their attorney, Joseph A. Ruta, has categorically denied any knowledge of the alleged abuse or claims of negligence regarding the child’s safety, stating that they only learned of the allegations through a settlement request in 2022.
The complaint outlines troubling events that began in 2018, when the girl, then a member of Refuge of Hope, was suggested by Clara Rivera to attend a summer camp internship at a related church in Florida. The camp reportedly allowed children to stay without parental supervision, and Refuge of Hope covered the girl’s associated costs. During her time there, the lawsuit claims the girl was repeatedly abused by an older camper.
The girl’s mother became concerned after a troubling phone call with her daughter, prompting her to reach out to Clara Rivera. According to the suit, Clara assured her she would investigate the issues raised. However, the lawsuit alleges that the Riveras subsequently isolated the girl, intimidating her into silence regarding her experiences at the Ignite Life summer internship.
Further claims in the lawsuit state that during a summer barbecue at the Riveras’ home in Rye, New York, the girl was left alone with the same older camper, who allegedly abused her again, actions that would violate New York’s criminal laws pertaining to sexual offenses.
The allegations did not stop there; in 2021, the girl allegedly faced another case of abuse at the same church, this time involving a male youth leader. Her mother discovered months of disturbing messages between her daughter and the leader, ultimately leading to police reports filed in both New York and Florida regarding the incidents.
In January, it was reported that the Ignite Life Center had settled previous lawsuits from three individuals who claimed they were abused as teenagers by a volunteer affiliated with the church. Additional charges of lewd and lascivious battery against minors have been filed against two others connected with the organization.
Founded in 2009, Refuge of Hope began as a gathering place in the Riveras’ home before moving to a more permanent facility in New Rochelle, New York. Mariano Rivera, a legendary figure in baseball, is renowned for his exceptional career with the New York Yankees, during which he secured five World Series championships and earned entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame.