(spoiler)
In the last episode (5th season 6), there is no evidence that it's Red John who has this tattoo, the victim didn't say his name, and there is no smiley signature on no wall. Red John doesn't kill in a hurry, and we know that he has ears into the CBI. So he won't go him self to take risks to kill this watched woman. He is a master in his killing art, never mistakes. The tattoo belongs to an accomplice and Jane knows it. He led Lisbon on a wrong lead by saying that this is a Red John's act. Why? Is it a genius trap?
If Red John is one of seven suspects in the list, that means that Mentalist will have the most boring and simplistic riddle in the world! It's impossible. The problem when I'm reading most of your theories (with all due respect) , I notice that you are analyzing with the obvious of appearance only, without taking into consideration the psychological complexity of the characters. We want absolutely to accuse Brett Partridge and Ray Haffner , because obviously they are both ideal suspects through their personalities , behaviors and especially the naive image that we've made of Red John (strong, charismatic, rich, elegant . ..). So all the clues that we learn make us accusing them unconsciously. I saw even theories accusing Partridge even if he's died !
But throughout the six seasons of Mentalist, we learned that the most obvious suspects weren't in the end. We also learned that P. Jane is a genius in his art, and he sets traps to prove his accusations. He knows the murderer almost from the start of each investigation and uses a psychological profiling of suspects to get there. He never based on the most obvious clue ou evidence (on the contrary of the CBI team who are always wrong).
Anyway, I think Patrick Jane Knows already who is Red John. I think he is preparing a trap at the height of his genius. Something spectacular. I think he knows that it is none of the seven suspects on the list (each episode of this 6th season lead us to this logic). They are only accomplices for some! I think Red John is one of the recurring characters in the series, so probably a member of the CBI team.
But then it's impossible to discover Lisbon as RJ, she's a woman. Cho is Asian! He can't be P. Jane himself, this will destroy the hero's image of all the show. So is he Wayne Rigsby?Many will say that he doesn't match, he hasn't the right profile, because of its gentle nature, easily manipulated and uncharismatic! But who said that Red John was charismatic? This is an imaged profil, a fantasy we have made as viewers.
Look at the reality of the serial killers , they don't have the face of the job (among the largest and most dangerous)! Some had a double life (often were adorable fathers and husbands). They have a banal physical, often without strong charisma. Red John is a psychopath. So it has a high IQ. He knows not only manipulate people but also naturally develop a split personality (generally opposite to the real one) like all the true psychopaths in this world to socially protect themselves.
Wayne Rigsby has a blurring past as Red John. RJ has a link with Tyger Tyger and involved into Visualize ( therefore with Stiles, ... ), nothing says that Wayne Rigsby wasn't an former membrer, he had Stiles as montor (who knows from the beginning that Rigsby is RJ), being part of Tyger Tyger organization or he is acting secretly against it.Generally, psychopaths fascinate people because they able to be very very kind and sweet. The majority of people who have closely attended psychopaths never imagined that they were monsters. They fascinate especially women by their complicated personnality! Hence we can explain the incredible number of disciples and accomplices of Red John. The way that these disciples act and make sacrifice suggest that they are following a sort of guru of a cult with a specific ideology ( to discover soon the real reason for all these murders).
Rigsby has the perfect role. It is even the only character in the series who meets the specifications of the socially integrated perfect psychopath. He works in addition to the CBI, so he has full access to all the informations about the Red John case and what surrounds it. He has the profile of guys soooo friendly and a bit silly at the edges, a little too much for this big manly strong guy. It represents the perfect contrast to the scheme angel / monster of a psychopath.
And if Mentalist wants to keep its famous reputation as a worldwide succesful tv show, it should surprise us by an unexpected Red John's identity; a historical surprise, and shocking reveal. Mainly after 6 years of waiting !
Don't forget also that the actors who are starring Rigsby and Van Pelt will leave the show in the midle of the season (it's official). Maybe because they will be killed, or all simply because they will find that Rigsby is Red John and maybe Van Pelt will leave CBI after such a disappointment or will die.
Red John is Wayne Rigsby ;)
