Lorelei is wearing a bandage on her left arm in the video naming the list but not when she is found dead?
Either a continuity error or she is still alive / was not dead when Kirkland got the list.
http://thementalist.wikia.com/wiki/Red_John?file=Lorelei_Martins_death_5x16.png
I can't really see how Patrick Jane can be Red John, except if they somehow concoct an incredibly lame and involved and complex multiple-personality or twin-brother theory to explain away all the inconsistencies.
However, one thing that Jane said to Lisbon when she was after Tommy Volker (I think it was in "Little Red Corvette") leaped out at me. He said of her approach "It's cold, I like it!" And I read that Bruno Heller says that Red John "likes the cold".
Just something else to think about!
its jane
There are 2 theories I've read thus far that I'm confident are wrong.
First, the earlier theory that Raymond Haffner is Rosalind Harker's brother doesn't make sense. If so, why wouldn't Rosalind say that Timothy Carter was Red John when PJ brought her into the morgue? That way, she would protect her brother and give PJ the mistaken impression that he killed RJ.
Second, no way Kirkland is RJ. Just way too obvious and easy. I don't buy the convoluted theory that he got plastic surgery, which is why Jason Lennon did not recognize him. I actually think Kirkland is trying to kill RJ for himself, hence his obsession with the case. I think RJ will kill Kirkland in the season 6 premiere. Now, you are wondering, "well then how did RJ know the list of 7 suspects?" I think PJ wanted Kirkland's guys to break in, so he would lead him straight to RJ. However, I think one of the homeland security guys works for RJ and gave the information to both RJ and Kirkland.
As of now I'm leaning towards Thomas mcallister mostly due to process of elimination. I don't think it's brett partridge since he's too young, and I don't see how a lowly forensics guy can wield such clout. I think PJ will start focusing on Bertram, mcallister, and haffner, and then go from there.
I chose "someone else" because the dropdown's choices were all single individuals. I'm skeptical that it's as simple as Red John being one of Jane's final 7 suspects. Yet Bruno Heller said, "You can trust the list." What's the trick or catch? Well, how about if Red John is two people ... one who does the killings, the other who's the mastermind? Anyone on the list is capable of being the killer, so in that sense, we can trust the list. But is the mastermind also on the list? Maybe, maybe not. Personality-wise, who's the only person with the charisma and intelligence to match wits with Jane. Only Brett Stiles. But remember Jane said Stiles couldn't hurt a fly. Not personally. So he had someone do his bidding? Or maybe it's someone like Walter Mashburn, who's not on the list and arrogant enough. So who's methodical enough and cold hearted enough to be the killer? It would have to be a someone good at keeping secrets, as well as someone smart. And someone on the list. I like Kirkland for that. The others have some screw loose that would make them risks for Red John to trust. We already know Kirkland killed for Red John. Anyway, that's one way to "trust the list" and still have a twist, even someone not on the list.
I have been watching since day 1 (and have owned and watched all seasons multiple times). I've followed this site for a while all while watching the show, and it's been fun reading everyone's theories! Most people (ahem, most) have good food for thought even if I disagree.
I have thought that Red John is Brett Partridge for a long time. I initially thought it was Brett simply because he has been there for every Red John impostor scenario. He pushes and pushes that the murder "is obviously Red John" when it is clear its an impostor - See S1.E1 (Pilot), S2.E23 (Red Sky In the Morning).
Red John is experienced, yes, no arguing that. There was a while where I thought Brett Partridge might be too young. But judging by the little snippets of video we get from S2.E8 (His Red Right Hand) when we flash back to him with Carter and Janet Peak, as well as Rosalind Harker's description from S1.E23 (just under six feet tall, with short, straight hair, not muscular but not soft, with strong hands), as well as his size from S2.E23 (Red Sky In the Morning) from when we see him with Jane, we know that he's a thin guy, not tall or large.
The episode where I believe to be the most evidence is actually this past season, S5.E13 (Red Barn).
I believe Brett Partridge is Bret Stiles' son. And I believe that he is a Visualize member gone rogue, during his stint at the farm that is reflected on in this episode. I believe this is why Bret Stiles claims to know more than Jane or Red John will ever know (S3.E3 - The Blood on His Hands) and he knows somewhat, what Red John's moves are and will be, but not enough to catch Red John, and since he is his son, another reason why he may not want to give him up. I also find it interesting that although their names are spelt different, they have the same name.
I think this also makes sense with the infamous "He is Mar" which I believe to be "He is Many". Signifying a group and not just one. Though RJ himself is one (and how incredibly lame it would be if it were more than one) I think that this for me was my first clue after looking back that Visualize plays a role in this somehow, with a member gone rogue.
For anyone arguing that Brett Partridge isn't 'important' enough in the CBI - If you watch S2.E8 - His Red Right Hand - at the end of the episode, we see someone walk down the corridor whom Rebecca smiles at as if he is Red John. If this was someone more important, he wouldn't be wearing a policeman's uniform, and people would have recognized him leaving after he poisoned her. He had to be just unrecognizable enough to do that without being questioned by anyone in the building in any way, but recognizable enough to get CBI access. I also think that Red John is the kind of character who likes to hide among the "average" and not stand out as an important person in the CBI, sort of hiding in the shadows I suppose.
A few small notes:
-I think that Van Pelt has been hypnotized in some way. She is left alone with Bret Stiles during his small stint in holdings S4.E16 (His Thoughts were Red Thoughts) and after this she has somewhat of a rosy view on Visualize. In S5.E13 (Red Barn) she's speaking to the pastor about the cult, and says something odd about Visualize (off the top of my head, something like "What's wrong with wanting to be the best version of yourself you can be ::smile::") and the pastor gives her a funny look, almost like she is a part of Visualize or something. I don't think she is a RJ accomplice, but I think that this will play into the story somehow.
-I believe that even thought we left things at the end of S5 that Jane is "behind" Red John, I believe that this is a trick. I believe Jane is actually not behind him, and he is in front of him and it will be revealed at some point :) Just a hunch, since Jane always makes everyone think he is behind the game when really he's right in front of it.
I don't know who Red John is but I do know that it is not Brett Patridge, why? you may ask, well here's why.
It has been stated that by the end of episode 1 of the new season the list of Red John suspects will be down to 6 people, so 1 suspect will be eliminated during the season opener. When we look at the suspects that are going to appear in the episode we will find that there will be Bertram and Patridge. Since Bertram is still alive after this episode (he will appear in episode 2 and is currently filming episode 5; source Michael Gastons twitter) it is pretty obvious that Patridge will be elmininated somehow during the episode.