A massive fire has destroyed the beachfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein at the Jeremy Cay gated community on Edisto Beach.

The fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, while Judge Goodstein was out walking her dogs. Inside the home were her 81-year-old husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, and other family members.

Trapped by the flames, they were forced to jump from upper-story windows to escape and were later rescued from nearby marshland by emergency crews using kayaks. Arnold Goodstein suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Two other family members were also hospitalized.

The fire comes weeks after Judge Goodstein faced backlash and death threats over a controversial court ruling that temporarily blocked the release of certain voter data — a decision later overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.