Not a theory but rather a personal wish:
Please, dear God, let there be one single day without someone posting a "I think RJ is all seven suspects" or a "I think RJ is PJ" theory. I cannot count how many of them have been down-voted already, but they keep coming out of the woodwork :(
Thank you.
I believe that multiple people are "Red John". All working together and taking an element of him to work on eg one surveys Jane, one controls the police force(s), one does the killing etc. This possibility was displayed in episode two during the scene in Bertrams office with himself, sheriff McAlister and Reed smith where Reed said to Bertram he was meant to be keeping an eye on Janes progress with the case.
I also still think (forgive me, I can't remember the episode, the one with the guy who worked for RJ, got out of prison, and ended up dead with a dead lady in a bathtub) the blood writing in the bathtub was going to say "Red John is Many"
I think that Partridge was killed because he stumbled upon a plot between Bertram, Reede Smith, and McAllister. McAllister killed Partridge. He didn't know Lisbon was tracing their phones. I think she surprised him when she showed up and he tasered her before she could identify him. He drew the smiley face on her to make it look like Red John murdered Partridge. He quickly left the scene when the pigeons started flying. In the most recent episode, we see he doesn't like birds, yet admits he likes to hunt "anything with a face" and doesn't mind the blood. How Red John knew she was there and was in danger I don't know.
I've been reading your comments for a while and while I too hate this list, I think it's time we all gave up the nonsense and accepted the list of seven as true. Over the summer I rewatched all the seasons (as I guess most of us did) and came to a few conclusions that have been reinforced by the three episodes so far (as well as the previews for E4). What does this mean? Either I've watched way too much tv in my life or I'm following the writers path perfectly which means I'm totally wrong :(
My thoughts on the 7 so far:
1) Brett partridge is dead
2) bob kirkland is trying to kill red John for his own reasons, believes the fake list he had his homeland security buddies steal from Patrick is the real list and is killing off all the suspects to make sure he gets red John
3) bret stiles is too old, wouldn't harm a fly according to Patrick, seemed friendly enough with Patrick (yes there is the scene with Hightower I know) from the start and really seems to be a third wheel to the red John - Patrick dynamic
4) Reede smith doesn't have control of his temper, does not fit the physical description provided by multiple sources, etc.
5) Gale Bertram is methodical, an emotional loner, recites the poem, etc but like smith doesn't really fit the description and, if we are going to take heller at his word (never a good idea) wasn't introduced until the third season premier. Not ruling him out but marking him as least likely of the three front runners for me.
6) ray haffner fits everything we know or suspect so far. Might have been at the farm, best matches the physical description, was in the FBI and CBI so connections would abound, seemed to be charismatic enough to both lead a CBI team and have Bertram think he could handle Patrick. Might have let Patrick break up his team to watch him work. Still seems too crammed down our throat especially the hospital bed scene with Lisbon, and if hes leaving Lisbon alive as a potential crutch for Patrick (always worried about her) or test for his loyalty (kill her and we can be friends) then why try and sway her to come work for him and leave Patrick?
7) Tom Mcallister - has been my front runner from the start. Others have championed his cause better than I could, fits description well enough, has been there from the start, etc. oh wait and now we have the hunter quotes and the pigeon issue "get it off me...hate those things." almost feels like he's being fed to us but in every scene/episode he's been in, doesn't he seem to hang back ala Waldo and let others do things. No guarantees but like I said he's my front runner and I'm sticking with him...thoughts?
Interesting that Lisbon got the call from a "unidenified caller" regarding Partridge. She knew Partridge was there since a GPS devices were planted on all 7 suspects. My question is why did RJ not show up on the tracking device? The list must be bogus. Also interesting how Burchrum questioned PJ about how Lisbon knew Partridge was there and how the police showed up so late. Ron is a strange dude. I do not think he is RJ but he at a minimum a mole.
Hello guys:
Just selected BP as the accused as the site would not let me submit without.
Spoiler alert: PIGEONS
Figure this out, you will figure out who is red john!!!!!
or it could be a red herring.
Anybody else here feels like his life will be kind of empty after the mentalist ends? meh..
I have no idea if the list is fake or not, if yes then i think it could be haffner, or reede because that idea with one of them being stiles' son makes sense imo, also sheriff is an interesting guy, if it's fake then I'll go with Ron or mashburn,