Explore gripping SC drama from The State in October

South Carolina news this October delivered unique drama across the region. These most read articles on The State website shared a focus on ongoing legal battles, shocking incidents, and criminal investigations.

In one case, the internet buzzed with conspiracy theories after a fire consumed a judge's home. Despite rumors of arson linked to her court decisions, authorities found no evidence of foul play. Another event followed Rom Reddy, who must remove an illegal seawall he had built. The court order highlights ongoing tensions over coastal regulations in South Carolina. In Columbia, a carjacking led to a fatality, drawing attention to the suspect's criminal past. Finally, a top sheriff's department official faced charges linked to a DUI arrest, resulting in his job loss. These stories showcase a month filled with legal confrontations, public safety incidents, and the resulting media attention.

Read the articles below:

A person washes their hands in this stock photo. Some Kansas City area restaurants received low scores on their health inspections. By Melissa Jeanty

NO. 1: RAT DROPPINGS WITH FLOUR. HANGING SLIME. WORST SC MIDLANDS SEPTEMBER RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in September, from rodent droppings in tubs with flour to hanging black slime in an ice machine. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick McCreless

Christopher Duke was fired by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department following an arrest on a DUI charge.

NO. 2: HIGH-RANKING MEMBER OF RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT LOSES JOB AFTER ARREST

A high-ranking veteran of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department lost his job after getting arrested over the weekend in South Carolina. | Published October 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Noah Feit

A fire on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, destroyed a beach house belonging to SC. circuit Judge Diane Goodstein. No evidence has been found that it was arson. By courtesy St. Paul Fire District

NO. 3: SC JUDGE’S HOUSE BURNS DOWN, LIGHTS UP THE INTERNET WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES

A fire that burned down a South Carolina judge’s beach house also lit up the internet and air waves with apparently false reports that criminals had torched her house in retaliation for a ruling she made. | Published October 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Monk

Emergency workers respond to a scene on Piney Woods Road, where a man died after being struck by a stolen car on Oct. 18, 2025. By Chris Segal

NO. 4: 1 DEAD AFTER DOUBLE CARJACKING NEAR MAJOR COLUMBIA SHOPPING AREA, DEPUTIES SAY

A man is dead after being struck by a person suspect driving a stolen hijacked car on Piney Woods Road !!!in Columbia Saturday!!!, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. | Published October 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Javon L. Harris, Noah Feit

Development on the beach at the Isle of Palms shows a seawall extending well onto the shoreline beyond other properties. Beach house owner Rom Reddy says work he did along the beach is not in state jurisdiction. But state regulators say the construction juts onto the eroding beach and is in violation of state law. Seawalls can worsen beach erosion and block public access along the seashore. By Courtesy S.C. Department of Environmental Services and the S.C. Environmental Law Project

NO. 5: SC COURT TELLS WEALTHY HOMEOWNER TO TEAR OUT SEAWALL AT HIGH-END BEACH HOUSE

A wealthy Isle of Palms man accused of having a seawall built illegally on the beach at his home must tear out the wall, a judge ruled Thursday in an order that supports the state’s right to protect beaches from encroaching development. | Published October 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.