Investigators find no evidence of arson at South Carolina judge, ex-senator’s beachfront home

Investigators have found no evidence suggesting the inferno that ripped through the waterfront home of a South Carolina judge and her ex-senator husband on Saturday was intentionally set, according to authorities.

Circuit Court Judge Diana Goodstein’s Edisto Beach home went up in flames around midday, forcing her husband, former state Sen. Arnold Goodstein (D-Charleston), to jump from the first floor to escape the blaze, the Post and Courier reported.

“At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set,” Mark Keel, Chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, told Live 5 News.

“SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion.”

Arnold Goodstein, along with two other occupants, was rescued by paramedics and neighbors in a marshy, remote stretch of land behind the three-story home.

The individuals were reached by emergency workers in kayaks, according to the St. Paul’s Fire District.

One person was air-evacuated to the Medical University of South Carolina, and the other two occupants, who have not yet been identified, were brought to the same hospital by ground transportation, authorities said.

Sources close to the family confirmed to FitsNews that Arnold was airlifted after suffering several broken bones during the harrowing escape.

Diana Goodstein, 69, was reportedly on the beach walking her dogs when the property burned to the ground.

She has presided over several high-profile cases since being elected to her first judgeship in May 1998 – including most recently blocking the state’s Election Commission from releasing voter data requested by President Trump’s US Department of Justice.

The SC Supreme Court later ruled against Goodstein’s temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, determining it was “clearly erroneous,” according to FitsNews.