Suspicious Fire Destroys South Carolina Judge's Beach Home, Hospitalizing Three

October 6, 2025 - A beachfront home owned by South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, former State Senator Arnold Goodstein, burned to the ground Saturday afternoon on Edisto Island, hospitalizing three family members and prompting a state investigation into possible arson.

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence in the Jeremy Cay community, valued at $1,155,200, ignited around 2 p.m. in the garage, according to initial reports from the St. Paul's Fire District. Flames rapidly engulfed the structure, producing thick black smoke visible for miles. Firefighters from St. Paul's, Edisto Beach, and Charleston departments responded, using kayaks to access the remote barrier island site due to limited road access and tight terrain. They drew water from a nearby pond to supplement limited supplies.

Arnold Goodstein, a former Democratic State Senator and Representative, leaped from a second-story window to escape, sustaining breaks in his hips, legs, and feet; he was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. His daughter and granddaughter, also inside, jumped from an elevated first-floor area and were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and minor injuries. Judge Goodstein, who was walking on the beach at the time, was unharmed.

No explosion was confirmed in official reports, though witnesses described a "sudden whoosh" as the fire spread, per St. Paul's Fire District Chief Travis McCurry. The district praised inter-agency coordination, noting all units relocated to maintain coverage during the response.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel announced an arson probe, with agents processing the scene Sunday. "We do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson. Until that determination is made, Chief Keel has alerted local law enforcement to provide extra patrols and security," Chief Justice John Kittredge stated, directing heightened protections for judges statewide.

Goodstein, elected as a resident circuit judge in 1998 by the South Carolina General Assembly, presides over the 1st Judicial Circuit. Arnold Goodstein served in the State House from 1971-1976 and Senate from 1977-1984. The couple's home, off Planters Retreat, overlooked the Atlantic and had been in their family for decades.

SLED expects preliminary findings within a week, with full analysis pending lab results on debris. The incident follows a string of threats against South Carolina officials, including vandalism at a Beaufort courthouse in August 2025.