A massive fire destroyed the waterfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Schafer Goodstein late Saturday, sparking an emergency rescue involving kayaks as flames consumed the structure. The blaze is under investigation and authorities have not yet found definitive proof of arson—but the circumstances have raised serious concern.
Flames and thick smoke could be seen from miles away after the elevated, three‑story home on Edisto Island caught fire. The home belonged to Judge Goodstein and her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, both of whom were off site when the fire started.
Three people were injured during the fire. Judge Goodstein was walking her dogs when the blaze ignited. Her husband and two others were inside; her husband reportedly jumped from the first floor to escape.
Because the house sits amid marshland and remote terrain, first responders resorted to kayaks to reach and evacuate occupants from the backyard. One of those injured was airlifted to a hospital, and the others were taken by ground transport.
State investigators from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are actively probing the cause of the fire. At present, investigators say they have found no evidence to confirm intentional arson. The investigation remains ongoing.
The fire comes amid heightened scrutiny of Judge Goodstein. Days earlier, she had issued a ruling halting the release of detailed voter data from South Carolina to the U.S. Department of Justice—a decision later reversed by state courts. Some observers and media sources have speculated about possible connections between her controversial ruling and the fire, though authorities have urged patience until forensic results are complete
