EDISTO BEACH, S.C. — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating a house fire in Edisto Beach’s gated Jeremy Cay community that is reportedly tied to a circuit court judge.
According to WBTV, the residence is owned by Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein, who is married to former state senator Arnold Goodstein.
SLED has not said whether it is investigating possible arson. However, multiple sources close to Judge Goodstein told FITSNews she had received threats in the weeks before the fire. Law enforcement officials have not indicated whether there is evidence of criminal intent at this time.
Goodstein had issued a ruling in September temporarily blocking South Carolina from handing over millions of voters’ personal data to the Trump administration, Newsweek reported. The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed Goodstein’s ruling.
Fire officials told WYFF the home sits on a barrier island with a limited water supply and tight access, complicating firefighting efforts. The occupants escaped by jumping from the elevated first floor and were rescued from the backyard using kayaks.
