Just submitting a quick theory, which i personally have not seen nor heard before..
My hypotheses is that Red John's identity is not one of the names Patrick put on the list... I don't actually have any evidence to support that specific thought but personally I just think it be way to easy and obvious. It would not fit how the series usually picture the "villain" of each individual episode. The fact that the main story revolves around catching Red John should, assuming the directors typical episode progression, be taken in to account - He'll want to make it end perfectly, without "us", the viewer, not suspecting a thing.
So who is Red John then? My guess is Patrick's physician during his admittance in the Asylum. Ask yourself why else would the director implement that fact? It has had, correct me If Im mistaken, no absolute purpose... yet. I couldn't really let this one go after seeing "Red John's Rules". Patrick claims that he has not told anyone about the memory. But what If he did and just doesn't remember doing it. Googling admitted people whom been diagnosed "mentally ill" but recovered, like Jane, most of them can't remember all of it, but judging by their recovery - some part of them must have been functioning from time to time. This is the only situation, that we know of, when Patrick's been mentally dysfunctional allowing "Dr Joe" as John called him self at one point, manipulate Patricks mind, perhaps even blocking the possibility of remembering event, or even meeting him in person - It would not be completely unlikely since similar things has been done by Patrick and we know John has the same talent. I mean - a mental physiatrics would probably ask typical question like what Patrick thinks of when being happy, sad etc. I want to point out that a mental physiatrics or doctor, whatever the actual professional name is for the occupation is bound by patience-doctor confidentiality - keep that in mind for the next segment.
That being said, remember how Bob Kirkland is sitting beside Alexa Schoultz when Bertram is being told that Patricks been admitted in the asylum? That kind of information would need a search warrant or some kind of reason to extract from the confidentiality. I mean, I think by now, everyone is assuming or at least guessing Kirkland is connected to Red John.. I'm guessing a disciple, a close one. That could explain how he knew about Patrick being admitted in the Asylum and how Red John knew the name on the list patrick made - since Kirkland broke in to Patricks office and documented the-so-far progress Patrick made. Red John is an intellectual man, claimed to be equally obsessed with Patrick as Patrick with him, only difference is one identity, Patrick's, is known and his is not. That would allow him to almost always follow Patrick.
That's pretty much all i got.
