Before I get into Brett Partridge... I think Bret Stiles is
Red John's father.



Stiles hinted towards Jane that he knew more about Red John then he was saying.
When the smiley face was found on the barn, visualize refused to give
membership records for the years surrounding the murders at the barn.



I think Partridge is Red John, but the mythos of Red John is built into more
than it truly is. Partridge was sloppy in his early days, but protected by his
father. As his skill grew, he used his father’s teachings to build himself a
network of accomplices. Stiles doesn’t support what his son does, but cannot
bring himself to actively work against his son.

I think over the next season we will begin to see the
networks of Red John and Stiles fall apart. Gale Bertram will be found to be
working for Red John, and we will find out that Bob Kirkland has his own agenda
(similar to Janes) for bringing down Red John and wants to beat Patrick to Red
John.

I think there is a link between Red John and Van Pelt.

What if Van Pelt were actually the real main character of the Mentalist ? Indeed, the pilot episode deals with Van Pelt first coming to the CBI, and I'm convinced the first clues are given in this episode : she may be the key to solve the Red John mystery. Maybe the fact she is red-haired is a sign to the viewers ? Let me explain you my theory, or more precisely some interesting elements about Van Pelt I noticed.

First, she always has troubles : her strange boyfriend who is actually the killer the team was looking for, Craig O'Laughlin who is a RJ's associate, ... It looks like if she had a very bad luck. And, there is this trauma : "... you're deeply repressed and emotionally shut down... because of a trauma in your past that you've never spoken of to anyone... ever... even yourself..." that Patrick talks about in the first episode... Maybe the suicide of her sister ? A very fuzzy situation here, and we never had any answer to this question.

Moreover, she appears in almost every episode of the show and she is the one who seems the most interested in Patrick's tricks. Grace believes in High-beyond, with médiums, etc,... Van Pelt says in the dinner scene (in the pilot) that her aunt, Yolanda,  was a "real" psychic (what Janes refuses to admit). And in an episode with the leader of Visualize, she seems to appreciate the advice given by Brett Stiles.

Also, she is also specialized in data processing, and Red John proved that he was also very skilled in that domain. He intruded the CBI computers at the moment Van Pelt was on hers.

She smiles at the end of an episode when she sees PJ crying.

In the last episode of season 2, in which PJ meets RJ, RJ ends telling Patrick : "Roll Tides", which could be linked with a football, and her father, Amos Van Pelt, were trainer of football. And Craig O'Laughlin knows VP's father as he trained him at school.

To sum things up : she is red-haired, she shows up in the first episode, she has odd connections with some of the murders, she is skilful with computers, she has connections with magic and mentalism, she never talked about her trauma, her father is frequently evoked but we don't know who he is... And more !

My guess ? Red John could be Van Pelt's father or somebody in VP's family (maybe Yolanda ?). What if Van Pelt were Red John ?

Brett Partridge





I believe ‘Brett Partridge’ to be
‘Red John.’ Why you ask? Well, while watching the TV series ‘The Mentalist’ I
have come to see many similarities between ‘Brett Partridge’ and ‘Red John,’
which has given me great reason to believe ‘Brett Partridge’ is in fact ‘Red
John.’ Within my theory of ‘Brett Partridge’ being ‘Red John’ explain why I believe
this to be so, what evidence I have to make this accusation and the
similarities between ‘Red John’ and ‘Brett Partridge.’



Similarity One: If we assume ‘Red John’ to be in fact ‘Roy
Tagliaferro,’ we can then compare the description given by ‘Rosalind Harker’ of
‘Roy Tagliaferro’ in Season 1 Episode 23. In this episode ‘Rosalind Harker’
describes ‘Roy Tagliaferro’ to be “Just
under six feet tall.” Now ‘Brett Partridge,’ played by Jack Plotnick who is
in fact 5ft 10-11inches tall, which could be described as “Just under six feet tall.” This matches the description given by
‘Rosalind Harker’ of ‘Roy Tagliaferro.’



Similarity Two: Again, if we assume ‘Red John’ to be in fact ‘Roy
Tagliaferro,’ we can then compare the description given by ‘Rosalind Harker’ of
‘Roy Tagliaferro’ in Season 1 Episode 23. In this episode ‘Rosalind Harker’
describes ‘Roy Tagliaferro’ to have “Short
straight hair.” Now, if we look at Brett Partridge’s hair we can see that
see that it too could be described as “Short
straight hair.” As before this matches the description given by ‘Rosalind
Harker’ of ‘Roy Tagliaferro.’



Similarity Three: Once again, if we assume ‘Red John’ to be in fact
‘Roy Tagliaferro,’ we can come to the conclusion that ‘Red John’ has a
Caucasian complexion. Now, if we look at the complexion of ‘Brett Partridge’ we
can see that be also has a Caucasian complexion.



Similarity Four: ‘Roy Tagliaferro’ aside, there are still many
similarities between ‘Brett Partridge’ and ‘Red John.’ One of these
similarities include tone of their voices. In several episodes with the series
we have had the chance to hear Red John’s voice, and it could be described as
an odd, high pitched and soft voice. Now, we have also had the opportunity
throughout ‘The Mentalist’ series to hear Brett Partridge’s voice and it also
could be described as an odd, high pitched and soft voice.



Similarity Five: In season 5 episode 13 ‘Patrick Jane’ shares his
thoughts on the matter of the identity of ‘Red John.’ ‘Patrick Jane’ says that “Red John is most likely a man.” Once
again ‘Brett Partridge’ fits this description.



Similarity Six: Since the murders committed by ‘Red John’ date back
to the 90’s we can assume ‘Red John’ is 30 years of age or older. ‘Brett
Partridge’ played by Jack Plotnick is 44 years of age. Making him eligible to
be ‘Red John.’

 

 



Similarity Seven: In season 2 episode 23 ‘Brett Partridge’ makes
the statement to ‘Patrick Jane,’ “Hovering
up the psychic ectoplasms? Nar… Nah… Nar… We have a schedule to keep amigo.
Tick Tock. The sooner you stop fooling around, the sooner we can start finding
your actual clues.” This could interpreted he was mocking psychics. From
that comment we can also assume that ‘Brett Partridge’ believe psychics to be
fakes. And, within the letter ‘Red John’ writes to ‘Patrick Jane’ upon
murdering Patrick’s wife and daughter it says “Dear Mr Jane, I do not
like to be slandered in the media, especially by a dirty, money-grubbing fraud.
If you were a real psychic, instead of a dishonest little worm, you wouldn't
need to open the door to see what I've done to your lovely wife and child.”
By looking at this statement made within the letter we can assume that ‘Red
John’ also believes psychics to be fakes.



Similarity Eight: In season 5 episode 8 ‘Lorelei Martins’ says to
‘Patrick Jane,’ “I only wonder why you
two didn’t become lifelong friends the moment you shook hands.” This could
interpret that ‘Red John’ and ‘Patrick Jane’ do not see eye to eye. Throughout
the encounters ‘Patrick Jane’ has with ‘Brett Partridge,’ Jane frequently
describes ‘Brett Partridge’ as a “Ghoul”,
“Irksome”,   excited by macabre, and in a deleted scene of
the original script, also "nimrod".
Showing these two individuals do not see eye to eye just like ‘Patrick Jane’
and ‘Red John.’



Similarity Nine: Through watching ‘The Mentalist’ it becomes apparent
that an interest in the poet William Blake. From this we can assume ‘Red John’
has an interest in classical literature. We can also see that ‘Brett Partridge’
may also have an interest in classical literature, as he quotes the book ‘Moby
Dick’ in season 1 episode 1. When we say, “THERE SHE BLOWS, classic
Red John smiley face. Drawn in the victims’ blood, clockwise with three fingers
of his right hand, wearing a rubber kitchen glove. I’m stoked to finally see
one in the flesh.” From the evidence given above we can see a similarity
between ‘Red John’ and ‘Brett Partridge.’



Similarity Ten: In season 1 episode 1 ‘Brett Partridge’ says “There
she Blows, classic Red John smiley face. DRAWN in the victims’ blood,
clockwise with three fingers of HIS RIGHT HAND, wearing a rubber kitchen
glove. I’m stoked to finally see one in the flesh.” From this statement we
can assume ‘Red John’ is right handed. We can also assume ‘Brett Partridge’ is
right handed as when we is reenacting the murder of ‘Gregory Tanoan’ he grips the
golf club as if he were right handed



Coincidence?  One: Within
‘The Mentalist’ there have been two ‘Red John’ copycat scenes (at Palm Springs
and in Oakland), ‘Brett Partridge’ is the forensic investigator for both of
these ‘Red John’ copycat scenes. A COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!



Coincidence?  Two: Within those
scenes ‘Patrick Jane’ states that the Murder was not committed by ‘Red John.’
We can assume that ‘Brett Partridge’ has studied, knows the style in which ‘Red
John’ committees his murders and also has even sleight admiration for ‘Red
John,’ by the statement he makes in season 1 episode 1, “There she Blows,
classic Red John smiley face. Drawn in the victims’ blood, clockwise with three
fingers of his right hand, wearing a rubber kitchen glove. I’m stoked to
finally see one in the flesh.” So why is can’t he understand that the
murder was not committed by ‘Red John’ even when ‘Patrick Jane’ points it out?

 





Coincidence? Three: ‘Red John’ himself recites the poem ‘Tiger
Tiger’ by a poet/ painter of the name William Blake in season 2 episode 23.
From this we can assume ‘Red John’ a liking for the work of William Blake. Now
there is a painting by William Blake named ‘A Brace of PARTRIDGE.’ This
in fact is the Surname of ‘Brett Partridge.’ Is this a coincidence? I THINK
NOT!



Within my theory on ‘Why I
believe Brett Partridge?’ I have presented many similarities between ‘Red John’
and ‘Brett Partridge.’ I have also presented an extra three thoughts, which could
be viewed as pure ‘Coincidences.’ But as said by Patrick Jane many times throughout
‘The Mentalist’ series “There are no such
thing a coincidence.” And with season 6 still to come, more links maybe able to be made
between the two characters.