Police: Family undresses, sings outside school

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - March 16, 2012

It was a bizarre protest Friday afternoon outside Upper Darby High School.

A woman failed to convince school officials to let her child leave school, so she and three of her other children took their clothes off outside the building.

The 22 year old was charged earlier with lewd behavior and trespass after stripping naked in the parking lot of Upper Darby High School along with two of her siblings and their mother.

Police say the group first showed up at Upper Darby High School on Friday morning to get a child dismissed from school. The biological mother attempted to get her son dismissed but, police say, school officials declined because of custody issues.

After being turned away at 10:14 a.m., police say the group returned again at 11:07 a.m. and then again at 12:55 p.m.

During the last visit, police say, the group disrobed in the parking lot and began singing religious hymns and prayers.

All this played out in front of students, some of them shooting of the family, still naked with arms inter-locked inside of their van.

They had to be forcibly removed by the police.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Mike Chitwood tells Action News that the group faces disorderly conduct, trespass and open lewdness charges and related counts.

Both 44 year old Sarah Butler and 21 year old daughter Bessie Butler apparently refused to dress for court.

Both have been ordered to undergo psychiatric examinations, and will be confined at a nearby hospital.

The Superintendant of schools had praise for police and high school personnel.

"It just shows that in this crazy world you have to be prepared for the unexpected," said Supt. Louis Devlieger. "Luckily, no one got hurt."