Police Launch Probe After SC Judge’s Mansion Burns to Ground

A South Carolina judge's beautiful beachfront home was burned to the ground on Saturday morning, sending three of her family members to hospital.

Police have launched an investigation after the home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, roared in flames on Edisto Beach as her family, including her ex-senator husband Arnold Goodstein, was rushed to hospital.

Goodstein's four-bedroom, four bath $1,155,200 home stretching up three stories went up in smoke at around 11.30am yesterday. Law enforcement are probing the cause of the devastating fire.

Local resident, Robby Borden, managed to capture the huge fire from his drone.

Smoke was seen billowing from the structure on the video, as the fire roared throughout all three stories of the home.

While Goodstein wasn't at home at the time of the fire, sources told FITSNews, multiple members of her family were at the home.

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge said in a message to the outlet that the fire resulted from an 'apparent explosion.'

'Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs,' he said.

Of the three family members rushed to hospital, one was Goodstein's husband Arnold - who reportedly leaped from the burning building after helping other family members escape.

'Arnie’s injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,' Kittredge added.

Goodstein's husband sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs and feet following the fall, the outlet reported.

Another of those hospitalized is said to be Goodstein's son, Arnold Goodstein II.

Their current condition remains unclear.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating the fire, a spokesperson confirmed to the outlet.

Kittredge said SLED chief Mark Keel 'said he will stay in touch and let us know if there is any evidence of arson.'

'At this time, 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,' he added.

Goodstein had reportedly been receiving death threats in the past few weeks, sources told FITSNews.

'She's had multiple death threats over the years,' one judge close to Goodstein told the outlet.

Just last month, she was involved in a controversial case in determining if voter's personal information in South Carolina could be handed over to the government.

Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order in early September, stemming from a lawsuit challenging whether the South Carolina Election Commission can give voters’ data to the Department of Justice, The Gazette reported.

However, the order was later overturned after a six-page opinion from the Supreme Court took issue with Goodstein's process in barring the state from complying.

Goodstein was criticized by the Supreme Court's order, signed by all five justices, for failing to detail what kind of damage would be caused in the release of the personal information of voters.

Specifically, the information of Calhoun County voter Anne Crook, who filed the suit to fight the release of her information to the federal government.

Goodstein was also said to have failed to explain whether she believed the lawsuit was likely to succeed, which is required for a court to intervene, the order obtained by the Gazette said.

The circuit court judge also told the Election Commission not to comply with the request for voter information before they had received notice of the lawsuit, which the court said was a violation.