I think that RJ could be the "underdog" Steve Mc Allister... He is a sheriff.
If you remember the episode called: RJ's friend's, Jared Renfrew, before dying, wrote something in the wall with is own blood. Something like: "he is mar.."
So, how is also called a sheriff? MARshall....
I'm allmost sure that he is (Kirkland). Here is why I think he is.
As many of you already may think, I think also that Patrick is playing a con on RJ with the list of the seven names. And also the "happy memory" thing, the only thing that could make sense I believe is that Jane tricked RJ to believe that, Jane knows how the reading works, so he could have make him believe that (I really don't know how exactly). Besides that a guy who uses a memory palace WOULD NEVER use such a extensive display of information supossed to be confidential, that's why when his investigation room was compromised he smiled, he wanted it to happen to make RJ think he is one step ahead.
The list that Jane gave to RJ is phony characters + Real RJ, because if he is not there he would notice that somethings off, he knows that Jane would never discard the real one.
The most surprising thing is that wether Lisbon is with RJ or Jane is fooling Lisbon on purpose, he told her that was a happy memory (and acording to this theory, he made up the theory for RJ, why would he tell her that?). THE F*ING INJURE ON LISBON HAND where did that come from? Why he doesn't ask much about it (maybe because he knows something that we don't). Why would Jane act so frustrated to Lisbon (only the two of them were in the room) when he shows her the video of Lorelei. That makes me think that he needs to fool Lisbon, but WHY?? Is she the RJ informant or Jane just wants to keep her in the dark? Craig O'Laughlin did not shot her in a vital spot.
So, narrowing the names :
Sheriff McAllister and Reed are just fillers.
Brett Partridge is just FanService.
Kirkland, Brett Stiles, Ray Haffner and Gale Bertram are the real tough list.
Haffner doesn't look like the guy who could manipulate someone and neither a group.
Bertram is so full of himself and commits various childish mistakes, I don't think he is either.
So is wether Brett Stiles or Kirkland
Pro Brett : He fits too damn well the profile.
BUT
Why would Lorelei say "it was a wonder you two didn't became best friends when you shook hands" because SHE knows they aren't friends so discard Brett Stiles, because it seems both of them are having fun with eachother so that's why I (in my opinion) think of them as play buddys.
So I think it has to be Kirkland.
I think Red John is Brett Partridge for most of the reasons outlined already, i.e. he matches Rosalinds physical description, his voice, he and Patrick don't like each other, remember Lorelei said she was surprised they're not friends.
I know Bruno Heller said there aren't any twists but I can't help but think Brett Stiles is involved somehow. Maybe he's Partridges father? (Both their first names are Brett, no one else on the show has the same name) Maybe he's controlling him somehow, though a trance maybe, I know it sounds silly but Patrick is always putting people under a trance though. And remember how Brett Stiles knew where Kristina Frye was, when no one else did. And someone knew about Patricks childhood memories, in an early Visualize episode when Stiles told Jane where Frye was he made it sound like he knew everything, at least in comparison to Jane and RJ, which he dismissed as nothing compared to him. And she was in a catatonic state, maybe Brett Stiles made her like that? But Brett Partridge does the killing?
In any event I hope Brett Partridge is who the writers/produces/creator of the show go with.
Love to hear more input!
Firstly, I don't personally think that it is Gale Bertram, I just wanted to share my thoughts on why it COULD be him.
The majority of theories on here that disagree with Gale Bertram being Red John state that it can't be him due to Rosalind Harker's description of Red John's hair.
"Short straight hair" - it could be entirely plausible that Red John wore a wig to cover up his lack of hair. That would mean that it would be possible for the the balding suspects to be Red John.
As well as this, (though even I find this doubtful) Rosalind may have been reciting the description that Red John told her to. She would have done anything for him, so maybe this is one of those things.
I think that Red john has hypnotize Lisbon .He makes her an accomplice with him and a spy for him . Three people in the list have met Lisbon privately which they are :
1- Gale Bertram
2- Bob Kirkland
3-Ray Haffner
and we know Red John is probably has an ability to hypnotize . He can make people to be in his side easily .
I feel that Ray Haffner is Red John , he met Lisbon privately lots of times and he offered her to join him in his own new company
Moreover, He is a member in Visualize as it is revealed in episode 13 in season 5!
But this doesn't mean that Lisbon is bad person , because she has been hypnotized. Look at episode 18 in season 1 when a women has hypnotized Rigbsy . He was like an evil he could killed Jane but then Jane him to recover and back to his nature personality!
Sorry for my english:)
I have just realised something. The CBS mentalist site has an add for whoisredjohn.com. If you have not realised what this means here are 2 possible theories why Bruno Heller made the site.
Theory 1 - He has not chose the character that will be reaveled to be Red John. So this means that maybe he is using the theories of this site to decide who he is going to turn into RJ not making the most expected character and avoid disapointments.
Theory 2 - To engage the community into this exciting search and not let them forget and lose their excitement.
Looking at the murder timeline we can see there are 6 years between the death of Jane's family and another victim. If anyone has any clues as to what happened in those 6 years the suspect list could be narrowed down.....