Madalyn was an atheist activist who came to national attention in 1960 when she filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of the United States, stating that compulsory prayer and reading of the Bible in public schools was unconstitutional. The Murrays' case, Murray v. Curlett, was ultimately folded into Abington School District v. Schempp, a landmark 1963 ruling which held mandatory Bible reading in public schools to be unconstitutional.6884
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Madalyn Murray's lawsuit largely led to the removal of compulsory Bible reading from public schools in the United States, amongst other lasting and significant effects. Until the lawsuit, it was not uncommon for students to participate in a variety of religious activities while at school such as Bible reading and prayer recitation, sometimes including religious instruction itself. Nonreligious students were expected to participate in such activities and were not consistently given an opportunity to opt out, as state-level policies varied. While students may pray in public schools, even in organized groups, the lawsuit disallowed schools from including prayer as a compulsory activity required of every student.

She and her children traveled by ship to Europe, planning on defecting to the Soviet embassy in Paris and residing in the Soviet Union, due to that nation's promotion of state atheism. However, the USSR denied them entry. Murray and her sons returned to Baltimor, Maryland in 1960.

In the 1990s, [Madalyn’s Organization] American Atheists amounted to O'Hair, her son Jon Murray, her granddaughter Robin Murray O'Hair, and a handful of support personnel. The trio lived together in O'Hair's large home. They went to the office together, took vacations together, and returned home together.6882
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The mysterious disappearance of America’s leading atheist brought much speculation and publicity, especially since during this month of exile the O’Hairs had withdrawn over $600,000 of the organization’s funds. Madalyn — 76 and in failing health — led many to suspect that she took the money and was living a quiet retirement life. Some suspected that Madalyn and her family were kidnapped and killed, most likely for her outspoken speeches against religion and her successful 1963 Supreme Court case resulting in the outlawing of prayer in public school.
Police gathered evidence over the next five years, piecing together a story of abduction and homicide. Three suspects were believed to have committed the crime. Disappointingly, the whereabouts of the atheists’ bodies remained a mystery until one suspect agreed to help locate them.

On January 27, 2001, two student assistants and I joined a task force of investigators from the FBI, IRS, Texas Rangers, and the Real County Sheriff’s Department at a sprawling ranch outside Camp Wood, Texas. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the suspect had trouble locating the precise grave site. We examined several areas on the ranch until we probed a patch of ground whose lack of compactness suggested a disturbance. We began digging there. 

After an hour of excavation, a human femur was exposed. We felt confident that we would soon uncover the remains of the three atheists. The complete excavation and recovery took approximately 20 hours over two days. The work was made difficult because the bodies had been thrown into the grave and overlapped one another. The bones became commingled, and careful excavation was needed to keep each skeleton intact. The grave contained three skeletons — all with their legs cut off above the knees — and an additional plastic bag that contained the skull and finger bones of a fourth victim.
We were able to make a positive identification of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, her son, and granddaughter. The additional skull and finger bones were identified as the third suspect in the kidnapping. He had been shot in the head by one of his co-conspirators.

It turns out, the motive was not religious differences, but simple greed. The bones of the three family members, who worked together and died together, were cremated and now share a vault in a Texas cemetery. Finding the O’Hairs ended one of America’s longest-lasting murder mysteries.6885
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On one visit to do research at Fruit Hill [Cemetery in Ansonville, Clearfield Co., PA] the caretakers met us there. They told of another researchers visit. The ill famous Madelyn Mays Murray O'Hair. Yep she was a direct descendant and cousin. We are a tree that has grown Heroes and scoundrels...lol.6886
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Our Family ancestors include Hero’s and Scoundrels. Our heroes include patriots in every American war, Pioneers, Bridge builders, and inventors.
 
As you may know, Madelyn Mays Maury [sic] O’Hair is our most infamous Grand Aunt (first cousin 2nd removed), a contemporary of our parents and grandparents. As a very intelligent self-taught, very strong will, she was the American founder of Atheism, Successfully sued the supreme court to remove Bibles/religion from our schools, was a guest on many talk shows, was a domineering mother, and murdered, along with her son and granddaughter, in the mid 1990’s. She was aware of her roots and visited Fruit Hill Cemetery, Knox township PA.705