A quiet morning at Edisto Beach became chaos when Judge Diane Goodstein’s marshfront home went up in flames. Her husband, former senator Arnold Goodstein, was badly injured after jumping from the burning house into the marsh below. “She’s had multiple death threats over the years,” a fellow judge revealed — making the fire even more chilling.

The October 4 blaze ripped through their three-story home, sending thick black smoke over the quiet Jeremy Cay community. Neighbors turned into heroes, pulling Arnold and two others from the swamp using ropes and canoes. Three people were hospitalized, one with severe leg and hip fractures. Investigators have not ruled out arson.

The fire came just weeks after Judge Goodstein halted the release of South Carolina voter data in a high-profile court ruling. State investigators and police have now increased security around her family.

Once a respected legal power couple, the Goodsteins now face heartbreak and uncertainty. As one neighbor said, “They’ve spent their lives serving others — now they need our prayers.”