BrunoHeller.. you're giving us an "encore" season of 6 episodes, hence you have 6 episodes to make everything connect and make it right.. if not..
you see the level of dedication of Mentalist hardcore fans in here despite all your bullshit? I will make ensure to trash you everywhere you're mentioned with that same level of dedication, until you actually realize that it's the fans who make your shows a success and not your hypocritical crap.

hey folks..i mean yes it is all confiusing..i have like 10 pct hope that RJ is coming back simply coz its hard to get your hopes high and then let them not be fulfilled..u remember how we thought the leaked episode was a fake..god..us fans..but one thing I give it to us people is that a little bit of the anger and frustation has been sidelined simply coz we shared it for so long..its been like 6 months with the RJ reveal and not a day passes without theories and discussions on this thread..
         guys like SK have dedicated their lives to jkeeping up the tempo and I admire that although I am skeptical abt how he would react to the RJ reveal being true..lol..so we had our time and in case BH did mock us for whatever reason its nt gonna hurt that bad coz we diluted it

I posted this in comment section, but obviously it should be here as a theory.
Also, we need Marcus Pike on the suspected list.

I dismissed Marcus because it was too obvious. Mainly for his name matching the "he is Mar" but in retrospect and in acceptance that Partridge might not be Red John, Marcus seems like an adequate replacement. Heller hid him in plain sight. He certainly knows his way around woman, a necessity from my point of detecting, and has the resources to pull of anything Red John was associated with.

Bruno said Red John is on the list, and he was (McAli). From the creators perspective, if you want to conceal the real Red John, but you were asked that question the only practical answer would be the one he gave. I'm sure in his place YOU would not say: "Yeah, I'll have a fake Red John and he is on the list but the real one is yet to come". YOU would not say that if you want to keep the suspense going. In this case he didn't lie just didn't say the whole truth. Also supports the theory Red John is too smart to be on the list to begin with.

Jane shook the hands of Red John. If you know Lorelei's original slip of the tongue, you know she put no time frame to it. Red John could have met, scratch that I'm sure he met Jane before he killed his Family. Perhaps Jane's Father with Jane's assistance embarrassed Marcus in their carnie past? Perhaps not, but ever since Jane started compiling the list, the whole thing felt wrong to me. Placing something important in the memory box is not unheard of, but hand shakes: Come ON. They aren't that important, therefore overlook can happen.

Marcus' promotion was surprise too. Perhaps Jane was getting too close for comfort. Also, Jane showing interest in other departments case was strange even to those close to him.

Jane is also concerned about Marcus when he ask Lisbon about her dumping him. Why does he do that? It could be interpreted two-fold. 

I was hard pressed on Partridge being Red John, but Marcus seems more and more qualified for the position. We might see Lisbon's hands stretched from two directions and the rivalry for her affection might have much deeper roots.

No suspect chosen for this post, but Marcus would be the one if it was possible.

Dear diary,

Today was a really great day. After spending 10 hours fulfilling my duties as local sheriff, I went out and used my ultra good looks and slick game to pick up yet another hottie to bang. Needless to say, she will now worship me forever and basically be my slave until called upon to die for me.

...

Today was another great day. Same old boring work, but After I went hunting and slayed 7 deer and 2 buffalo. Then I went back to the club and picked up another hottie to bang. This time I decided to stab her up and paint a giant face from her blood instead of adding her to my harem of sweet honeys.

...

Today not so good. Walked outside, saw a pigeon, shat my pants, and decided to call in sick.

...

Woke up, hunted, worked, banged hotties, killed carnies wifey and baby for fun, hunted some more.

...

Freaking pigeons!!!

...

Went to work today after about a weak of running from pigeons. Was ready to go back yesterday but caught a rerun of animaniacs and they showed the goodfeathers so I was paralyzed from the fear. Anyways, I had to take the day off from making the ladies worship me yo track down my boy Jared before he spilled the beans. Luckily he had a ho with him so I was able to get a quick piece before hacking them up. Get this, I decided to write a random line on the wall that will mislead everyone for years. HE IS MAR....not sure what it means, but that carnie will be doing back flips in his sleep.

...

Decided to spend the day sharpening my hacking skills so I can mess with that dirty red head that gave me the shake a couple years ago. Dirty hobag. Tomorrow I will get back to hunting, arresting speeders, banging skanks, killing other skanks, and making sure my harem is still brainwashed into thinking I'm awesome. Of course this depends on no pigeons being out!!

...

Got up early today, called in sick after seeing a turtle dove in the driveway. Not sure what I'll do today since hunting, banging, hypnotizing, killing, arresting are all off the table. I got an idea, maybe I can google bad cops. Yeah that's it, I'll find cops that have f'd up and somehow without explanation get them off then hold them hostage as my servants forever. I'll have FBI, cbi, local cops, homeland, and maybe even just one regular dude named Timothy in case I ever need a fall guy. This will be my new Sunday hobby since the rest of the week I have to be sheriff, bang chicks, kill other chicks, hack the web, and screw with the carnie.

...

Convinced another honey that I look younger than I am younger than I look and have short straight hair today. Yep, she'll die for me someday. I can't quite figure out why they can't get my description right.

....

Ran into the carnie again. Had a little fun with him. Of course all the fun went away when that damn bird buzzed me.

...


That was a close one. What was I thinking getting the same tattoo that I forced all of my minions to get. Good thing I had that flash bomb, real bomb, and spare body handy to get out of it. Decided to save the carnie again though. Might have to kill him soon. Will have to let him know how psychic I am though.

...

I'm not really sure what just happened. I think I'm dead. Not sure cuz I should have died a while ago but mustered up the ability to run a half marathon after being gut shot. Where'd it go wrong? Oh yeah, the damned pigeon!! Wait a minute.....none of this makes sense, I've been following this case for a while now, and something is off. I never went to no visualize farm. I don't have the game to pick up all them hotties. I didn't want that tattoo. I'm not psychic. I was never afraid of pigeons. I don't have the resources to blackmail hundreds of law officials. Is this a bad, poorly executed dream? Have I been played??