Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Florida angler broke a state record when he landed a non-native lionfish measuring a staggering 18.19 inches long in the Gulf of Mexico. Coroner's spokesman Scott Carrier said the cause of death was not immediately known and there was no sign of foul play.

Carrier said the coroner's investigation would take about one day.

Rhode Island resort offering experiences in 'hobbit houses', Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Rhode Island property is offering Lord of the Rings fans the opportunity to live out their Middle Earth fantasies in rental "hobbit homes. His son Sam had a rough life and died in 1996, reportedly after a long battle with alcoholism. This often made more sense than the chaos that surrounds each one of us when … In our ongoing quest in the story of Andy Griffith, today we look at the troubled life of his son, Samuel James Griffith who died in 1996 of alcoholism at the age of 38 (see the story below). He suffered some serious illness and after all those years of abuse, he finally gave out on his life. Andy Samuel Griffith Jr., 38, … He was 38. Florida angler breaks record with 18.19-inch lionfish. Even though they shared two kids from their relationship, the pair parted their ways on 3rd July 2012.

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Carter said no identification was found on the body, 'but at this point it looks like it's him. Exotic lizard rescued after three days on power line. Andy and his first wife, Barbara They also had an adopted daughter, Dixie Griffith. The photo above is of Andy and his first wife Barbara- who was the adopted mother of both Sam and their daughter Dixie Griffith. Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Pennsylvania said a chameleon was rescued after being stranded on a power line for three days. He felt like Andy didn’t love him because he wasn’t his TV son "Opie", the lovable character played by Ron Howard on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ in the 1960s," added the insider. Sheep found wandering loose through Virginia city. In 1945, while a student at the University of North Carolina, Griffith was initiated as a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national social music fraternity for men.

His daughter Dixie is still alive and living in Denver. A spokesman for the elder Griffith at the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles said the family had issued no statement, pending their own confirmation of the dead man's identity. They finally, and sadly, reached an impasse in the 1990s — and then Sam died tragically of an overdose before Andy could patch things … When Andy Griffith passed away suddenly in 2012, the world mourned the passing of a man who symbolized life in a simpler time.. As Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and then later as lawyer Ben Matlock, Griffith played characters who embodied goodness and dispensed down-home folksy wisdom. Woman inspired by fellow store customer to buy $250,000 lottery ticket. ", Toy Hall of Fame inducts Baby Nancy, Jenga and sidewalk chalk.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 -- Andy Samuel Griffith Jr., son of the star of 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Matlock,' was found dead early Wednesday in a Los Angeles apartment…

Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A pair of surfers on the northwestern tip of Ireland made an unusual discovery washed up on shore -- a time capsule tossed into an Arctic ice floe by the crew of a Russian ship. Time capsule from the North Pole washes up in Ireland two years later. 'We understand he may have had a history of problems with alcoholism,' Carrier added. The show, and Sheriff Andy, were first introduced on a 1960 episode of "Make Room For Daddy" with Danny Thomas. Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Michigan man who won a lottery prize of $5,000 a week for life said his jackpot was correctly predicted by the clumsy clerk who sold him the ticket.

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Washington state couple's cat went on an incredible journey when he wandered into a shipping container and ended up at a Home Depot store 2,500 miles away in Alaska. Charles Carter, a private investigator who works for the actor, said Andy Griffith Jr. was the actor's adopted son.

Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman said she was inspired by a fellow customer in line at a store to buy a lottery ticket and ended up winning $250,000. Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Animal control officers in a Virginia city captured a sheep found wandering loose through a neighborhood, and the animal's origins remain a mystery. ', Clerk correctly predicts Michigan man's lottery jackpot. Andy Griffith Jr. Death Battling With Alcoholism. Andy Griffith, then a popular nightclub comic, was the guest star.

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Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The National Toy Hall of Fame in New York state announce this year's inductees are classic doll Baby Nancy, sidewalk chalk and the game Jenga. Sam Griffith died in his North Hollywood home on a Wednesday morning.

The son of actor Andy Griffith was found dead early Wednesday by a roommate, but investigators say there are no signs of foul play.

Their son, Andy Griffith Jr. died of alcoholism in 1996.

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Chinese martial artist broke a Guinness World Record when he used his nunchucks to volley 34 table tennis balls in 1 minute. Martial artist hits 34 table tennis balls in 1 minute with nunchucks. Washington state cat hitches 2,500-mile ride to Alaska. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 -- Andy Samuel Griffith Jr., son of the star of 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Matlock,' was found dead early Wednesday in a Los Angeles apartment, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said. Sam was 38 years old while he passed away fighting with alcohol and drugs.