I wont pretend to know who Red John is, I'm just throwing a few ideas out there. Ray Haffner doesn't immediately stand out as a suspect, due to the lack of emphasis on the character in his episodes. But I think it could potentially make sense.

So we know RJ was involved with Visualize, I believe he is a member, but not someone who is high ranking. I first had my suspicions when Bret Stiles started telling Jane about how much he knows about Red John. Bret Stiles is very rich, but the only influence he has is in Visualize where he knows almost everything about his members. 

When Christina Fry was kidnapped by RJ, Stiles met up with Jane and gave him Christina's location. Calling it "a gift from a friend". Red John must realise that Stiles was leaking information, as if I remember, the house was in a pretty random location that only people who were told would know about. So why didn't Red John kill Bret Stiles? Anyone who knows anything about Red John is always killed by the man himself. Two explanations:

-Bret Stiles is Red John
-Red John is a member of Visualize. And as we know, no member of Visualize could harm Stiles.

I personally don't think it's Stiles, even though he would be a fitting Red John. I think it's more likely a low ranking member such as Haffner. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also have a semi-theory relating to how RJ knew about Jane's happy memory. If we can all accept that PJ is not RJ himself (PJ's several encounters with him, why didn't Lorelei just shoot Jane if she knows he is RJ? Plus Heller telling us very non discretely that "Patrick Jane is not Red John" in a recent interview about the list.) then we must turn to the eerie world of HYPNOTISM.

Any of you who watch any of Derren Brown's programmes may be aware of snap induction. It's a form of hypnotism where you can put someone in a trance by shaking their hand. 

But would Jane "fall" for that, being a Mentalist himself? So many questions. Once you answer one another appears. I just know that I can't wait for the next season.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the show :)

For me there is no doubt - the only person on this suspect list that makes sense is Gale Bertram.

He could have easily and quite legitimately obtained the mental asylum files - he in the end employs Patrick Jane. He could have obtained the files by saying he wants to make sure Patrick is stable enough to work for the CBI.

Also, have you noticed when Lorelei is reading the list of suspects, there is a long break after she mentions Gale Bertrams's name?

In addition, Gale was the first person to be revealed of Patrick's 7 when he was talking to Lisbon. I do think Patrick strongly suspects him.

Gale is in a position of power - as head of CBI it will be easy for him to obtain any information he wants and he most likely knows Patrick's every single move.

He also can recruit people into CBI - isn't it quite funny that so many of Red John's friends are working in the exact office Patrick Jane is working. How do get all those people recruited into that office? Gale Bertram is the only one who can influence who is working in his office. Brett Partridge would not have the authority.

What do you think?

I'm surprised not to see more people looking at Alex Jane, Patrick's father. I think there's now an excellent case for considering him.

The show has been very careful to avoid giving definitive clues, and to include a lot of misdirection. Hence we should look for an answer that would provide an elegant conclusion, but that Heller has avoided hinting too directly.

Alex Jane is an obvious choice because of his absence. For someone so important in Patrick's development, he has received almost no coverage in the series, and that cannot be an accident. This absence from the plot is probably the strongest evidence pointing to him: he is being reserved for a future misdirection (which may have already started, in 'Red John's Rules'), or he is Red John himself. 

'Red John's Rules' confirmed that Red John's talents as a mentalist exceed Patrick's - guessing the seven names on his list, orchestrating the event so that Patrick would receive the disk that Lorelei recorded - all impressive feats. (It is, of course, possible that Sean Barlow's comments on John being a psychic are correct - but if you believe that, it takes you down a very different route.)  

It also shows that Red John has intimate knowledge of Patrick's childhood - not just the carnival circuit, but specifically of Patrick's upbringing. This includes information that almost certainly could not be obtained from third-parties - he selected the victim in that episode to make that point to Patrick. 

The seven people themselves are perhaps less compelling on purely dramatic grounds - none would give as satisfying a conclusion as it being Jane's father. A couple of them have solid grounds for suspicion, and Kirkland is at least an accomplice, but it's too obvious. Even the handshake clue may itself be a misdirection - after all, CBS and Heller have no obligation to tell the truth. 

First of all, Patrick Jane? The most stupid theory I've ever heard. Bruno Heller said Jane isn't RJ, also it doesn't make sense.

Bob Kirkland - It can't be someone who comes on in season 5. Also it would be so obvious with handshake. I think RJ killed someone from his family and Kirkland wants to get RJ on his own. But this is just my theory.
Raymond Haffner - It would be disappointment. Maybe, but I don't think so. He is too short in serial.
Bret Stiles - He is too old. Look on RJ behaviour when he met PJ or when he is with Rosalind. It can't be.
Reede Smith - No, no, no
Thomas McAllister - It would be shock.
Gale Bertam - He is so stupid, RJ wouldn't lose in poker. But I think he is involed.

Red John is Brett Partridge. He is from first episode, his voice is very similar with RJ's voice. Rosalind's description - right. Connections in FBI, CBI? I think he has. Also Brett = Red. "A brace of Partridge" is painted by William Blake, the same guy who wrote a poem "Tyger, Tyger" whose RJ cited. Just look on his face - he is a sociopath.