A peaceful October afternoon on South Carolina’s Edisto Island turned into a nightmare when Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s beachfront home erupted in flames, leading to a dramatic rescue operation that left three people hospitalized and investigators searching for answers.
The fire broke out on October 4 at the couple’s residence located off Planters Retreat in the Jeremy Cay Community, creating scenes of chaos as thick black smoke billowed into the sky and orange flames consumed portions of the structure. Video footage captured the intensity of the blaze, with audible crackling sounds accompanying the visual destruction of what had been a serene coastal retreat.
Husband’s harrowing escape leads to complex rescue
The most dramatic moments unfolded behind the burning home, where Judge Goodstein’s husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, found himself trapped in challenging terrain after jumping from the back of the house to escape the advancing flames. The property’s unique location, partially surrounded by trees and marshy areas typical of Edisto Island’s landscape, transformed what might have been a straightforward evacuation into a life-threatening situation.
Neighbor Tom Peterson witnessed the unfolding crisis and quickly became part of the rescue effort. According to Peterson, Judge Goodstein had been walking her dogs on the beach when the fire started, leaving her husband inside the home when the emergency began. The judge informed Peterson that her husband was injured and stranded in the marshy terrain behind their property…