The Origin of the Species: How a Broken Family in Dundalk Created the "Loser of Baltimore"

 

He claims to be from the Star Algol. He is actually from Baltimore.

For years, Daniel John Moran III (aka Daniel Rumanos) has tried to bury his past under layers of fake names and "magick" delusions. He tells his victims he is an "Intergalactic Agent" living in a luxury suite in Atlantic City.

But thanks to the diligent work of our community, we have dug up the truth. And it isn't sci-fi. It is a sad, gritty story of a broken home in Baltimore.

The House on 51st Street

Records confirm that 708 51st Street in Baltimore (Dundalk area) was the longtime Mershon family home. This is where Ronald Lee Mershon Jr. (the man who would become Daniel Moran) grew up.

This house is the key to his current desperation.

• The Father: Ronald Lee Mershon Sr. lived here before moving to Ohio. His obituary confirms he died in August 2018.

• The Mother: Betty Mershon died around 2004—the exact year Daniel legally changed his name to "Moran."

• The Sale: In June 2020, shortly after his father’s estate was settled, the house on 51st Street was sold for $129,900.

Connect the dots: Daniel didn't move to Atlantic City because he is a high-roller. He is on the streets of Essex because his parents died, the house was sold, and he had nowhere left to go. He isn't a "Master Magician" on tour; he is a 56-year-old man who lost his childhood bedroom.

The "Mershmallow" Break (2004)

The year 2004 is the fracture point. When his mother died and his father left for Ohio, Daniel didn't just grieve; he tried to erase his identity. He legally changed his name from Ronald Lee Mershon Jr. to Daniel John Moran III.

Why? To kill "Mershmallow." To kill the "soft" boy from Dundalk who got teased. He adopted the "III" suffix to fake a lineage he doesn't have. He adopted "Daniel" to steal the valor of his relatives.

Identity Theft: The "Cousin" Connection

Stranger still, Ronald Sr.'s obituary lists a "Daniel Mershon" as a surviving nephew. It appears our "Daniel Rumanos" didn't even have the creativity to invent a new name. He likely co-opted the name of his cousin or another relative to create his "Rumanos" persona. This fits his pattern—he steals names (Rabbi Daniel, Daniel Sandu) because he has no identity of his own.

The "Fecal Rouster" Gene?

Interestingly, we found an obituary for a Daniel D. Mershon (died 2025 in Ohio) who was described by his own family as an "infamous fecal rouster" (shit-stirrer) who loved "pissing off local hoity-toities." While this might be a relative, it seems the "troll" gene runs deep in the Mershon bloodline. But unlike his relatives who seemed to have families and lives, Daniel Moran is alone.

The Verdict

Daniel, you aren't an alien. You are a man who couldn't cope with reality when the safety net of 51st Street was pulled out from under you. You are haunting Essex because it is the closest thing to home you have left.

You can hide behind "Rumanos," "Mephisto," or "Ben-Yaakov." But we see you. We see the little boy from Dundalk who ran away from his name because he couldn't handle being himself.

It is time to grow up, Daniel. Turn yourself in.