Who is Red John?

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List of seven

Thomas McAllister
Thomas McAllister
Reede Smith
Reede Smith
Ray Haffner
Ray Haffner
Gale Bertram
Gale Bertram
Brett Partridge
Brett Partridge
Bret Stiles
Bret Stiles
Bob Kirkland
Bob Kirkland

LATEST THEORIES

2 REALLYYY good theories I found:

1) Red John is the son of Timothy Farragut, the founder of Visualize. From the list of suspects, this makes him most likely Bob Kirkland or possibly Brett Partidge (though that seems too obvious to me).

Here's the basic theory: The Mentalist is playfully written - it presents us with puzzles, symbols, metaphors, allusions, psychological doubles and wordplay - classic literary techniques. The big clue about Red John is in the names....

RJ assumes the pseudonym Roy Tagliaferro, which we're told means 'cut iron'. He has been associated with Bret Stiles and Visualize from an early stage and season 7 episode confirms that he has been at some point a member of the cult (and probably still is). He uses cult techniques to control his followers and the language he uses to persuade is very much a mirror of the language used by that of Visualized, too; it's a fair assumption.

This episode also gives us his approximate age: he's described a 'a kid' some 20 years previously. There's a suggestion that Ray Haffner is a contemporary. The constant 'doubling' with Jayne also suggests strongly that he and RJ are of a similar age (and mentality - they are the darkness and the light of the same personality, in a sense). So this rules out the likes of Stiles from the list (too old) and Partridge (too young). Partridge is, however, very likely a 'friend' and probably lends RJ the voice that he uses publicly. Partridge may also be the son of Stiles - so, a 'brother' to RJ in an almost literal sense.

Why? Look at the names. Tagliaferro (cut iron)/Farragut ('iron gut'). The writers have almost given it to us on a plate here. Red John is the son of Timothy Farragut, the founder of Visualise who was murdered by Stiles. Don't be surprised if we discover that RJ was raised almost as Stiles' own son within the cult and therefore assumed special status. Being as intelligent as he is, he more than likely knows that Stiles killed his father, but their relationship is a complex one; each fears the other, but their destinies are somehow bound together. RJ is the twisted product of Bret Stiles murderous tyranny and manipulation, a being who has grown somewhat out of control and is developing his own cult within a cult with a purpose that is as yet unclear - but it does seem to go to the heart of the US justice system.

He more than likely has complete access to the Visualize 'confessions', hence his knowledge of Patrick's happy memory (revealed by Patrick's doctor, more than likely a Visualised member). He could have worked out Patrick's list himself; he would know which of his surviving 'friends' Patrick has met and shaken hands with and would know that Jayne will have worked this out for himself. It's a bluff, a scare tactic.

What Patrick has is a list of Red John and his six key lieutenants and RJ knows he's getting way too close now, so he needs to scare him, play Patrick at his own mind games. But which is RJ? I'm plumping for Kirkland. Why? A double bluff from the writers, who are playing games with us. They've given him to us knowing that we're going to speculate and doubt and say 'No, that's too easy.' It ain't too easy. It's Kirkland. Think about the scene in the hospital where he killed the guy who could have identified him. 'Do you know who I am?' he asks. That's the loyalty test for members - deny all knowledge, even on pain of death, even to Red John himself. It's like Peter denying Jesus. Kirkland's the man, and he's a maniac

2) My theory is about how did RJ made the exact same list like PJ did. I dunno if someone already posted this but here it goes:
Theory: Lorelei is still alive
Supporting Details:
-you can see an "ALIVE" word painted before PJ saw the "fake dead body" of Lorelei.
-Lorelei's wound is not shown. She is just covered with a blanket full of blood. And she is naked so no one can take the blanket off.
-Kirkland is in charge of the crime scene which i assume that is an accomplice of RJ if not RJ himself because of the fact that he killed Lennon.
That's why Kirkland breaks into PJ's room, steal the list, made video of Lorelei and then pass the video to the girl in CSP who also works for RJ and when caught killed herself through a pill.

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The list has got to be a plant by Jane. There are so many little details that just don't fit with the widely accepted storyline. If Jane's real list was the names we saw in his book about midseason, then Jane spent the rest of the time laying a trap for RJ - a fake list because if RJ knew he was on short list of suspects, he'd kill Jane, Lisbon, the whole team because after 5 seasons, the one thing we know about RJ is that he doesn't allow loose ends that could get him caught alive. Jane really plays up the secrecy and locks on his loft door for the second part of the season to send a subtle message to RJ, that he has something to hide so RJ will come and steal it. RJ takes the bait and steals Jane's fake list and this is KEY: Jane doesn't even notice and continues his charade. Let's be clear that Lorelei is still alive when RJ steals the list so that's why RJ can make that video with Lorelei before he kills her. Lorelei turns up dead and soon after Kirkland steals Jane's list. This time Jane notices (toothpick scene) and assumes RJ has finally taken the fake list. He wraps up his charade almost immediately (ignoring the distraction of LaRoche).  This also allows Heller's statement that the list is real to be true because Heller would be talking about the first list and not the fake one.

This theory ties up all the loose end questions like:
Why the toothpick scene?
How was the Lorelei video possible?
Why give us a glimpse of names at midseason if it wasn't going to lead anywhere?
Why were the names in the book (midseason) the favorite suspect while the ones in the finale were boring and mostly unqualified?
Would Jane really hide something important with locks that practically shout "look here!"? 

Logic:  3rd season, Jane told the whole team the plan and the audience the plan and RJ won.  4th season, Jane only told Lisbon and the audience and RJ still won.  5th season, Jane doesn't tell Lisbon or the audience the real plan.

The list is a fake and the names we glimpsed in the book are the real suspects. 

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Wanna know what`s in J.J. LaRoche`s super mysterious box? Well, do you remember that man who agressed LaRoche`s mom? 
Yes, LaRoche is hiding Scott`s tongue in there. Bummer, or what? If you rewatch episode 21, season 5, you`ll see, at the end of the episode, that Scott`s mom says that her son`s tongue was never found. So, voila!

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I watched an old episode today where Agent Susan darcy was investigating the death of the other serial killer(the one manipulated by patrick so RJ would kill him). She only confided in Patrick and teresa that she was pursuing the killer. Then RJ stalked her and sent a video to the CBI. Doesn't this raise questions as to how RJ found out she was pursuing the case? She only confided in patrick and teresa so how on earth did RJ find that out!? This is way too fishy so im assuming that Patrick is either RJ or Teresa is an informant to RJ.

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Mashburn is STILL my favorite suspect! I don't care about any list or verbal promise a Hollywood suit is dishing out. --- 

 From Theory #4018  Sezaru
" In the last episode of season 5, “Red John`s rules”, Lisbon  says to Jane, “I can keep secrets”; he disagrees, but in a very weird way."

--- I'm thinking they put that whole scene in there for a reason.  Lisbon thinks Jane doesn't know about her tryst with Mash-- Jane does.   

The Powers That Be are giving us little snippets that ---yes--- there will be future sexual tension between Jane and Lisbon.  Who could test the loyalty between two people more than a love interest?!  Hmmm??  So let's look at the creative and genius plot that could unravel if it would turn out to be Mashburn.!!!  

 We already know that Walt fits the mold and description.  (Stop harping on the height thing.  A couple of inches from a blind womans comment from 3-4 years ago is moot).  He may have only been in two episodes but has been eluded to a few times, right?  Therefore, I consider him to have been a suspect that's has been right "under our nose" the whole time.  Who would expect it from him?  He is such a charming guy!  Suave,  arrogant, cocky...oh wait... I just described PATRICK JANE!!!!  Again-  BOOM!  Another genius reason the writers and Heller  should bring back Mashburn to the mix.  He was the one guy Jane never really was able to get under his thumb.  (You know that would have to bother Jane!) 

I guess I just want to look at the most exciting and story-worthy possibility in these scenarios cause to tell you the truth... the list that we have now is quite yawn-worthy.  Unless these writers come up with some fabulous back story that goes deep into Jane's past and gives us some incredible insight that we haven't seen....meh.   Give me a Jane, Lisbon and Mashburn triangle.  It would tie up a season finale so superbly.

So...if Heller is telling the truth....he's making a VERY big mistake.

(IMO, of course.)

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Am I the only one here who is almost absolutely sure that Red John was NOT on that list? When Bob Kirkland's men broke into Jane's "office" at the final floor of the CBI...Jane knew they were going to break in...and he smiled when he realized that they actually did. He couldn't have been that stupid to let the real list there. I think Red John is on the list...the old list, with all the people Jane shook hands with, not the final list.

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I was wondering if there is something wrong with the list?
Of course it was confirmed by Bruno Heller. What what puzzles me is the fact that Jane smiles when he recognized someone break into his attik where he 'lives' at the CBI when he places the toothpick as a secret mark in the door crack. It seems that he awaited it somehow to set somebody on the wrong track?

Then again I think Bratt Partridge is to young the be RJ. Remember back the days when RJ worked on the Elliston farm during the time in 1988 when he was a member of the sect. So he must be older maybe around the Age of Ray Haffner.
Because they say that RJ is someone maybe the same age the farm workes have been.
Also Bret Stiles knows who RJ is. Because he doesn't give the list of the farm workes from Elliston farm during that time.

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