Someone has been regularly using and paying the bills on the American Express card of Madalyn Murray O'Hair's granddaughter, who vanished 1 1/2 years ago along with O'Hair, the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday.
O'Hair is best known for her lawsuit leading to the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing organized prayer in public schools. She, along with her son Jon Garth Murray and granddaughter Robin Murray, vanished mysteriously in September 1995.At the time of their disappearance, the IRS was seeking $750,000 from Jon and Robin Murray, alleging they took money raised for an atheist group and bought a Mercedes-Benz, a Porsche, maid services and a home.
An account officer for Nationwide Credit Corp. of Seattle, which handles collections for American Express, confirmed that up to $1,000 a month has been charged since August 1996 to an account held by Robin Murray, the Chronicle reported.
The officer, who was not identified, also said the monthly balances have been paid in full.
In addition, an account at Lord & Taylor of New York, also in Robin Murray's name, is active and has been paid in full, the Chronicle reported. The last balance of $233.79 was paid in April 1996, the newspaper said.
Gov. George W. Bush received a letter Wednesday from O'Hair's estranged son, Bill Murray, requesting that Bush assign the case to the Texas Rangers. The letter will be reviewed, Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes said.