The first frantic call crackled with desperation. “We’re trapped!” a voice pleaded into the 911 line, the urgency raw and immediate. Flames were already tearing through the lower level of a South Carolina home, cutting off escape routes and trapping a family inside as the night unfolded into chaos.
The house belonged to Judge Diane Goodstein, a respected figure who had, unbeknownst to many, faced previous threats. As her son desperately relayed their situation to dispatchers, the initial reports from deputies hinted at something more than a simple accident – the fire was immediately deemed “suspicious.”
Outside, Judge Goodstein walked her dogs, unaware of the inferno rapidly consuming her home. Confusion reigned as family members frantically tried to locate each other amidst the unfolding disaster, her son urging his father to call her while simultaneously battling to remain calm with the 911 operator.
Then came a chilling cry of pain. Arnold Goodstein, the judge’s 81-year-old husband – a decorated Vietnam War veteran with two Bronze Stars – made a harrowing escape, leaping from a window. “I’ve broke my legs,” he gasped, his voice strained with agony. “Help!”
Relief briefly flickered as the son, Arnold Goodstein II, reported that everyone had managed to get out of the burning building, but the celebration was short-lived. His father’s injuries were severe, and a new, terrifying threat loomed large.
Concern quickly shifted to the property’s propane tank. “I’m worried about the propane tank,” the younger Goodstein said, his voice laced with fear. A grim response followed: “Oh, that s--- is gonna blow.” The potential for a catastrophic explosion hung heavy in the air.
Witnesses described “several notable explosions” rocking the exclusive waterfront community, the sounds echoing through the night. First responders raced against time, urging everyone to move towards the water for safety as the flames continued to rage.
Beyond the Goodstein family, a wave of panic spread through the neighborhood. More than a dozen separate 911 calls flooded the system, each reporting plumes of smoke and the terrifying sight of the house engulfed in flames, visible even from nearby beaches.
Judge Goodstein, a fixture on the bench since 1998, had recently made headlines with a ruling against the Justice Department. While the case was later overturned, the incident added another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Despite the initial suspicions and the documented threats against the judge, investigators ultimately found no evidence of arson. While the cause of the fire remains undetermined, the harrowing 911 calls paint a vivid picture of a night filled with terror, resilience, and a desperate fight for survival.
Two others sustained injuries in the blaze, but remarkably, everyone escaped with their lives. The charred remains of the home stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of security and the swift, unforgiving power of fire.
