The latest theories about Red John's identity (page 377)

SUDDENLY, I am thinking it's NOT Bret Stiles. I just posted about the symbolism I found in 4 of the 7 suspects names: BRET stiles, BRETT partridge, roBERT kirkland and Gale BERTram -- two BRETS and TWO BERTS -- as in "BRETON" -- a place in France known for King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Also, Stiles=High place, Partridge=Noble, Bertram=Knight and Kirkland=Church Land. BUT I am changing my theory that Bret Stiles is head of the Red John operation or that ANY of these guys have anything to do with RJ. After looking at the name meanings of RJ's accomplices, I think it may be something much more personal and insidious than the cult leader and his followers. It may involve Grace Van Pelt as "Van Pelt" means son of one of who cures animal hide, a departure from the noble meanings of the other CBI names.

We know that Red John used alias: ROY (RED HAIRED) TAGLIAFERRO (TO CUT or IRON CUTTER).
Some of the other character names:
Rosalind (WEAK or TENDER) Harker (TO LISTEN)

Lorelei (SEA SIREN: who leads men to their deaths) Martins (WAR or God of War Mars)

Orville (SPEAR) Tanner (ONE WHO CURES ANIMAL HIDES)

Dumar or Du (TO BECOME) mar (to DAMAGE or SPOIL/also SEA, or WAR) Tanner -- changes to "Hardy"
Rebecca (TO TIE OR ENSNARE) Anderson (A MALE)

Craig (CLIFF OR ROCKS) O'Laughlin (LAKE)

Brenda (SWORD) Shettrick (not sure, but "she trick" is obvious)

Ron (RULER) Deutch (means: OF GERMAN)

Anthony (PRICELESS) Gupta (SECRET)

Miriam (BITTER) Gottlieb (LOVE OF GOD)

Julia (YOUTH) Howard (GUARDIAN)

Jason (HEALER OF) Lennon (LOVERS)

Timothy and Sally Carter (CARRIER OF GOODS)

Gabe (GOD'S ABLE BODIED ONE) Mancini (LEFT HANDED/SINISTER MAN)

Todd (A FOX) Johnson (son of JOHN, which means GRACE or MERCY OF GOD)

James (TO TAKE THE PLACE OF ANOTHER: SUPPLANTER) Panzer (german for: MILITARY TANK)

Malcom & Sandra Boatwright (BOATMAKER)

Linus (FLAX) Wagner (WAGON MAKER)

Erica (FLOWER) Flynn (RED)

Morgan (BRIGHT or SEA) Tolliver (english version of TALIAFERRO: or IRON CUTTER)

Tommy (TWIN) Volker (german for ARMY)
Walter (RULER OF AN ARMY) Mashburn (by the MARSHLANDS)

These names all seem to speak for themselves, either literally or ironically

Then there's the CBI people:

Madeleine (HIGH or TOWER) Hightower (DWELLER NEAR THE TOWER)

J. J. (what does this stand for? ) LaRoche (ROCK or DWELLER ON THE ROCK)

Patrick (NOBLEMAN) Jane (GIFT FROM GOD)

Theresa (TO HARVEST or TO REAP) Libson (PLACE NAME in PORTUGAL; LIB means both FREEDOM and GOD'S PROMISE)

Virgil (unknown) Minelli (NEAR A RIVER, IN SPAIN & PORTUGAL)
Kimball (WARRIOR CHIEF) Cho (BEAUTIFUL)

Wayne (CRAFTSMAN or WAGON MAKER) Rigsby (by a RIDGE)

Grace Van (SON OF) Pelt (ONE WHO CURES ANIMAL HIDES)

Susan (LILY or FLOWER) Darcy (DARK)

Alexa (DEFENDER OF MAN) Shultz (german for: OVERSEER or SHERIFF/HEAD OF VILLAGE)

Luther (german for: FAMOUS/ARMY) Wainwright (WAGON MAKER and REPAIRER)

Kristina (FOLLOWER OF CHRIST) Frye (FREE MAN)

CBI RON (RULER) -- no last name?
Stephen (CROWN) Hannigan (SON OF A LITTLE SLOW MAN)

I wonder if there's a connection between Van Pelt and Tanner, whose names have the exact same meaning

The 7 SUSPECTS:

Gale (GUST or WIND) Bertram (KNIGHT)

Robert (FAMOUS) Kirkland (CHURCH LAND)

Bret (from BRETON) STILES (HIGH)

Brett (from BRETON) PARTRIDGE (NOBLE)

Sheriff Thomas (TWIN) Mcallister (DEFENDER OF MAN)

Reede (RED) Smith (METAL WORKER)

Ray (PROTECTOR or GRACE) Haffner (german for POTTER)

Um, these names are all quite noble but for Reede Smith, which doesn't sound good at all.

There are definitely some repeating patterns in all of these names. Hmm....

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There's an interesting pattern in 4 of the 7 suspect's names, likely symbolic: the name "BRET" can be found in the names of: Brett Partridge and Bret Stiles; AND [Gale] BERTRAM and ROBERT [Kirkland] also rearrange to "Bret" as well. Bret is a place name, meaning from "Breton" or "Brittany" -- a part of France that used to be a part of England; Breton meaning "a lesser or little Britain," as opposed to "Great Britain." Breton is where the King Arthur legends purportedly took place. Interestingly, STILES means ASCENDING [as in fame or high place]; the name BERTRAM means KNIGHT; PARTRIDGE means NOBLE; and KIRKLAND means CHURCH LAND. KNIGHT, NOBLE, CHURCH LAND -- the writers are telling us something here. And I think that the use of the word "BRET" in each name denotes their involvement in the "round table" of Visualize --- with each man and their individual name representing their specific role. STILES is at the TOP of the "Visualize Church"; and I think that Bertram, Kirkland and Partridge are a few of his most trusted "NOBLE" "KNIGHTS" who protect the "CHURCH LAND" and carry out his vision. Visualize is a highly organized, corporate stylized CULT -- and if you look at the history of cults, which I did via Google, PARTICULARLY of California or "CULTIFORNIA," it's creepily commonplace. SO, while I think BRET STILES, the leader of the cult Visualize, is the mastermind behind Red John --- I do not think RED JOHN is one specific person. I think Red John is a creation comprised of many: Bertram, Kirkland and Partridge, each fulfilling a role in the "kingdom." We already know Kirkland is a corrupt follower of RJ but he hasn't the leverage or charisma to be in charge of so many people at once. Bertram has more power, being in a great position to let many "pawns" into the CBI though I hate to think Bertram is a bad guy -- but somebody is hiring all these people who end up on the inside, though Bertram just doesn't seem to have the drive to be "recognized" in the way that someone like RJ does. Also, I think it's safe to say "ghoul" Partridge is the one who actually does the gruesome killings [enjoying investigating his own handiwork, as others have mentioned]. Initially, I felt Partridge was RJ, because I felt he was the killer but it just wasn't enough that ONLY Partridge was RJ as he is just not that charismatic enough to have power over others. Partridge is more of a follower. Kirkland is a follower and Bertram is a follower. The only leader is Stiles: Stiles controls all of these people and has created RED JOHN to be thought of as one individual person, a "serial killer" on the loose as a RED HERRING, to throw PJ and the CBI team off the trail of Visualize. PJ has been looking for his one true nemesis, but I think he's going to learn that this enemy is in the faces of many.

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After "Red John's Rules" (S5E22), I really wish RJ turns out to be directed by Sean Barlow with Ray Haffner, Brett Partridge, and Sheriff McAllister committing the RJ murders.

Sean Barlow is the friend/business partner and later enemy of Alex Jane, PJ's father. Other than Bret Stiles, SB is the only character with the charisma, brains, ruthlessness, psychic/mentalist skills, organization (see below), and showmanship to carry it off. I realize this is highly unlikely... The others--especially the list of 7--are either too obvious or lack credibility by comparison. (Bret Stiles is the obvious alternative, but is too old. He also doesn't seem depraved enough to personally revel in RJ's heinous murders. He seemed genuinely upset at the murder of the female Visualize member who worked on his security team.)

The following was established In "Red John's Rules." Long with the carnival, SB would know PJ's past, including Eileen Barlow Turner (who SB raised and who RJ murdered), the Carson Springs carny layover location, and possibly Gottleib, the director of the Child Protective Sevices and a RJ friend. Becoming an enemy of Alex Jane and given to nursing grudges and swearing vengeance, it is likely SB would have pursued vengeance against Alex Jane and his family, PJ. (As Judge Dellinger in "Red Dawn" S5E5 said, "If you want to hurt a man, don't kill him--kill his family.") According to PJ's carny friend, Pete Turner, SB is ruthless and capable of killing his niece Eileen. Since SB and Eileen were with the carnival, he might well know of PJ's "happy childhood memory" first-hand by simple observation. If not, SB would have had access to the young PJ and, as a psychic and mentalist himself, could have used hypnosis. Finally, SB maintains connections with Ireland. He is old enough to have had those connections in the days of the Irish Republican Army. The criminal/terrorist network that used to fund the IRA is still accused of being involved with bank robbery, extortion, smuggling, and counterfeiting. Were SB involved, that would give him a criminal network with international reach and connections to other criminal/terrorist groups. In the past, the IRA was involved with the PLO, Quadafi's Libya, FARC in Colombia, and the Basque ETA. As part of an international criminal network, SB would naturally come in contact with disturbed and/or criminal men, and would have opportunities to identify and recruit allies in police departments, the CBI, the FBI, and Homeland Security. So SB would have the personal traits plus the organization and resources to do many of the things RJ does--murder, favors for friends, infiltrate law enforcement organizations, and pursue vengeance for decades.

As for PJ and RJ, Sean Barlow could personally commit the RJ murders. But I think it more likely he is the brains of what is now the RJ criminal organization, with others doing the actual murders. Ray Haffner, a self-admitted "troubled kid," would be my guess for committing the RJ-style murders at the Red Barn farm 25 years ago ("The Red Barn," S5E13). The murders are now done by a group of similarly-twisted men--perhaps, Brett Partridge and Sheriff Thomas McAllister as well as Haffner. Why Haffner? He is the right age to be at the farm. His height, build, age and hair are credible relative to Rosalind Harker's description. Haffner has extensive links to relevant organizations--former FBI agent, former CBI Senior Agent, and past/current Visualize member (Red Barn farm link). His background in surveillance would equip him to access various computer networks and spy on those pursuing RJ. So Haffner could have murdered PJ's family in reaction to his TV comments about RJ. Knowing PJ was likely to become a prominent psychic, SB could easily predict PJ would work with police and comment on famous killers for the publicity--thereby securing the vengeance SB swore to exact. The SB-Alex Jane-PJ-RJ connection thus comes full circle. Note that tormenting PJ is personal for SB, too.

The lurid RJ murders stand out, but there are also ordinary crimes. Todd Johnson ("Red Moon," S3E9), the RJ friend and EMT serial cop-killer, may have killed some people for reasons, not just arbitrarily. Todd Johnson's archaeologist friend Montero ("Red Queen," S3,E16) was a gun-runner to Central/South America for terrorists and dictators (FARC in Colombia?). Finally, Bosco's team was working on an international drug cartel case when Rebecca murdered them at RJ's direction ("His Red Right Hand," S2E8). Yes, RJ wanted PJ back on his case, but there could have been a monetary interest in disrupting the drug cartel investigation as well.

Connecting RJ to ordinary crime as well as psychopathic murders provides the resources for his activities and links to other criminal and terrorist organizations, domestic and international. That could provide a legitimate reason Homeland Security and the FBI to be interested in RJ. Gale Bertram and Bob Kirkland could be working together for legitimate law enforcement reasons. Kirkland asked Bertram whether "we" could trust Lisbon. If they were RJ friends, why would they ever think they could trust Lisbon? Conversely, if they are working on a legitimate investigation, that comment might make sense in that they are concerned with PJ being compromised by Lorelei ("There Will Be Blood," S5E16). (BTW, I find it intriguing that Bertram has a plaque for bravery in his office ("Strawberries and Cream," S3E23). That seems incompatible with him being RJ.) If Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating several international criminal/terrorist organizations, they may have split it into several smaller investigations to protect the larger effort from being betrayed by one leak or one bad agent. Kirkland's interest in Lorelei and his act of killing Lennon could have been motivated by protecting the larger investigation (shaky, but ...).

The Mentalist would be well-served by broadening it beyond just RJ and the CBI murder-of-the-week, especially if (the main) RJ is caught in season 6. I personally would like to see Bertram gone (killed being brave?!), Lisbon promoted to his position, Cho promoted to unit head, and Jane occasionally working with the FBI and Homeland Security on international criminal/terrorist cases. With all that change, PJ and Lisbon could pursue a personal relationship (Jisbon) while preserving enough change and tension to keep the series new and interesting. Like I said, unlikely but interesting to speculate.

If you got this far, thanks for spending the time to read all this!

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Theory #4581 • By nameRJ

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As i Was Reading The Mentalist Cast On IMDB i notice something interesting to me...as i was searching the cast i got to Angela Ruskin Jane....am i the only one that find it weird that patricks wife has the initials RJ ? especially since Rj and patrick never knew each other before the killings...Could patrick Be Rj.....or Just A Dream?

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I know that the actors who play them aren't related, etc...but did it strike anyone that Gale Bertram looks A LOT like Sean Barlow?
I was just watching the last episode "Red John Rules" and couldn't help but make the connection when Barlow started talking about how Red John has "Powers"...
Does Barlow believe that Red John has powers because he is really a Barlow? Maybe Gale is actually a Barlow, but changed his name somewhere along the way to Bertram.
This is obviously just a theory of mine, but it would kind of make sense if it was true as far as all of the "killing a childhood memory" goes.
Let me know what you think!

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Theory #4571 • By alex77

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Bruno Heller once mentioned that we will be kinda dissapointed when we find out who RJ is.So that leaves us 4 suspects.The 2 obvious and the 2 outsiders in a way that they appeared in only 1 episode.I am talking about Brett Partridge and Bob Kirkland from the obvious and Sherrif Thomas McCallister and Reede Smith from the outsiders.One of these 4 people i believe is Red John.I will rule out Bob Kirkland.I dont think he is RJ but I think he is an accomplice of RJ probably the friend that RJ mentioned in s04e24 inside the FBI.And thats why he killed Jason Lennon.It was orders from RJ because he was afraid PJ will break down Lennon and eventually he will reveal the identity of Red John.I will also rule out Reede Smith.I dont think that Heller put him randomly in the list of 7.He will play an important role on finding who RJ is.Maybe RJ himself will kill him just to prove PJ something.We will see in the next season.

So that leaves us with 2 suspects.Brett Partridge and Sherrif Thomas McCallister.The only reason that i pick the Sherrif is because i think that he can manipulate people more easily than Partridge.Partridge is younger and i just cannot see him as RJ.

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I think, for the reasons we all know, like his voice and another, which is RJ Partridge.

I wanted to add one thing, regard the written He is Mar, might actually be the address of RJ?
"Mar" could stand for Marin County or Sacramento Marina.
"He" might actually be the numbers 11 and 9 (written a little 'bad), "is" the number 15, then 11915?

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