South Carolina Judge’s Home Engulfed in Fire, Investigation Ongoing Amid Reported Death Threats

Authorities in South Carolina are actively investigating a massive fire that devastated the beachfront home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein. While the blaze, which erupted on Saturday, sent three members of her family to the hospital, investigators stated on Monday that there is currently no evidence to suggest the fire was intentionally set.

Judge Goodstein, 69, a Democrat-appointed judge, was reportedly walking her dogs when the three-story residence in a luxury gated community on Edisto Beach, Colleton County, caught fire. Her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, and their son, Arnold Goodstein II, were among those hospitalized after escaping the flames.

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has confirmed an active and ongoing investigation into the incident. SLED Chief Mark Keel issued a statement confirming that agents have preliminarily found no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion or intentional setting. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.

The incident has drawn heightened attention due to reports that Judge Goodstein had recently received death threats. In September, she issued a temporary injunction on the release of the state’s voter files to the US Justice Department, a ruling later reversed by the state supreme court. This context has prompted concerns about potential politically motivated violence, echoing a national discussion on the safety of public officials.

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