MLB Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, Wife Clara Accused of Covering Up Child Sex Abuse

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariano Rivera.Photo:Jim McIsaac/Getty

Baseball Hall of Famer and former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera looks on before throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2023 in Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Giants 5-0.

Jim McIsaac/Getty

Mariano Riveraand his wife Clara Rivera have been accused of covering up child sex abuse at a Christian summer camp affiliated with their church and in their own home.

Mariano Rivera and wife Clara — August 2019.Jim McIsaac/Getty

2019 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera speaks to the crowd as he stands with his wife Clara next to his Hall of Fame plaque during a ceremony in his honor before a game between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019 in New York City.

The minor, who was born in 2007, is identified as Jane Doe in the complaint, Her alleged abuser — an older female minor — is referred to as “MG.”

The abuse allegedly took place at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Fla. during a 2018 summer internship program that is affiliated with the Rivera’s church.

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Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara.AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara stand outside of their new church, Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope), Thursday, March 6, 2014 in New Rochelle, N.Y. Being retired hasn’t stopped Rivera from picking up one more save. A crumbling and long-vacant church on Thursday became the new home of a ministry led by the wife of the New York Yankees legend, following a $3 million restoration project funded by his foundation.

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Clara, who serves as the Refuge of Hope’s head pastor, according to itswebsite, is also named in the complaint. The documents allege that “The Ignite Summer Internship required children to reside at Ignite Life Center for the duration of the program, without parental supervision.”

The complaint claims that the baseball pro “paid Jane Doe’s expenses” in order to “ensure she could attend the summer program.”

MG is accused of allegedly abusing Jane Doe again at a summer 2018 BBQ at the Riveras' Brook View home, per the complaint. The Riveras no longer live at that property.

The complaint alleges that 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 plaintiff is seeking a jury trial.

PEOPLE reached out to a rep for Mariano, as well as Refuge of Hope church for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees, 2006.Nick Laham/Getty

Pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day at Legends Field on February 24, 2006 in Tampa, Florida.

Nick Laham/Getty

Rivera played 19 seasons as the New York Yankees' closer from 1995-2013. He is a 13-time MLB All-Star and five-time World Series champion and won the 1999 World Series MVP Award. In 2019, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump. He is the only player in baseball history to be unanimously voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com

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