Mariano Rivera & wife face shocking accusations of sexual abuse cover-up involving minor; lawsuit filed against Yankees legend in New York

Former Yankees legendary closer Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have come under the scanner after a lawsuit was filed against them in New York for suppressing or failing to act regarding the sexual abuse of a minor girl from their church, the Florida Pentecostal church affiliated with Refuge of Hope.

The lawsuit, which alleges that the Rivera couple tried to cover up the details of sexual abuse in their Christian summer camp and at their home, was filed on Thursday in the Supreme Court of Westchester County.

As per the court records, the plaintiff Jane Doe alleges that she was sexually abused by an older but also a minor girl named "MG" in 2018 during a summer internship at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida. The center is affiliated with Rivera’s church.

“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 lawsuit read.

The couple “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 submitted court documents said.

The lawsuit also mentions that since both Mariano Rivera and Clara traveled from New York to Florida, where the internship was taking place, they should have known about the abuse.

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How are the plaintiff's family related to Mariano Rivera and Clara's church?

According to the Independent, Jane Doe's family are also members of Refuge of Hope, which is affiliated with the church centered in the discussion.

The possible ill-act took place at a barbeque hosted at the Mariano Rivera and Clara’s property in Rye, New York, in August 2018. The Brook View property was reportedly sold in June 2022.

The plaintiff also alleges that she was sexually abused by Refuge of Hope Associate pastor Ruben Tavarez Sr.'s adult son Ruben Tavarez Jr. in Aug. 2021.

The latest event brings more light to child sex crimes taking place at Ignite Life Center. As per the Independent, three individuals were arrested for such crimes. Among them, former volunteer Gabriel Hemenez was jailed for five years for two counts of molesting a minor in March 2024.