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

Right now my top suspect is Ellis Mars aka Lamar Ellis

In Season 2 Episode 2 (I think), Jane has a conversation with Bosco in which they play on the phrase "Cover Up" and as Jane is leaving Bosco drops the file in a basket covering up another file that read:
Superior Court - LA County
   Statements - Case# 42-53-2A
Attn: Lamar Ellis

Then in a later episode we meet a man calling himself Ellis Mars pretending to be a psychic.  He acts a bit goofy to throw everyone off but he correctly predicts there will be another murder.  Then when Jane has Mars in the hotel room and the killer, a Red John accomplice, comes in the Killer says to Jane "It would blow your mind" in reference to who Red John is.  That Jane had Red John (Ellis Mars) right there in the room would blow his mind. 

My #2 suspect is Bertram and his assistant.  This works for many reasons already stated in others theories.

In Reality I doubt that Bruno Heller has decided exactly who will be Red John.  He has left things open enough that it could plausibly be 10-20 different characters.  Also with Red John using so many accomplices any one who appears a solid suspect could be written as just another accomplice.

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I think there is 2 or 3 Red Johns. The first (and original) one, have been killing since the first victim until Patrick's family. In episode 1, theres two interesting facts, the first one, is the introduction of Brett Partridge, who seems to have knowledge of Red John's modus operandi. But also he seems to have some admiration to the killer, but i feel that is like a son admiration to his father, so I think. If Tanner had a son (Dumar), maybe Red John also had a son too. And that son, could be Brett. The "Roy" that visited Rosalind and raped Lorelei's sister, could be him, 'cause is not like the original Red John's modus. But whe know that the original one has some kind of "love" to Jane, but Patridge doesn't have one, he almost hate him. The second fact, is the introduction of Van Pelt, the start line of everything in the series, and also most interesting when Lorelei mention a "hand shake" with Red John before (to Jane). I think taht the trauma that Jane mention is, something, when young, Van Pelt saw. Maybe Red John killing someone, or something like that. She had a kind of relationship with Red John's (familiar or something). She ran away from him, until O'Laughin. When he died, she suffered a collpase, and Red John contacted her, and she went to here, She started to act different since O'Laughin dead. So maybe Patridge (the second Red John) and Van Pelt (an apprentice to third Red John), are working to the same man (or woman), the first one, but i don't have more information to think of someone. A theory i have, but i don't like it, ('cause will ruin my "perfect" series final) is that Timothy Carter, was actually, the original Red John, but he decided to retire and let Brett to follow the legacy.

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Okay, after all i've red some of these ridicilous theories i will make the most accurate theory ever; and it's 100% true shot. Here i say it this might be a big spoiler from cast so if you dont wanna ruin the show better u dont look at it but i must say Red john is Red john.true story

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In addition to Bertram's tea-drinking, Wm. Blake poetery-quotes, age and general physique consistent with what we know about RJ, there are more subtle clues that suggest Gale Bertram is RJ:

In the episode where Jane meets Gale Bertram and shakes his hand, (Season 3, ep 1) Jane (wrongly) suspects Bertram could be the killer in that episode.  Mid-episode Jane states (regarding  Bertram)   "I got a weird vibe the first moment I met him."  In Season 5, Lorelei states that she is surprised that Jane did not know RJ when Jane met him and shook his hand. Jane did sense a "weird vibe" upon meeting Bertram to suspect he could be a killer.

In Strawberries and Cream (Pt. 1), after Gupta is killed, Bertram tells Lisbon there is no need to pursue the purpose of the money transfer "list" - the list that would ultimately inform the team that RJ was behind Gupta's crime and was seeking Hightower. When Bertram is informed about the details of Gupta's scheme he calls it "elegant." RJ would consider his criminal plots to be elegant.

in "Strawberries and Cream (Pt. 2) the script stresses that all but one person on the list as possible RJ accomplices  are innocent. Bertram was on the list - but we know O'Laughlin was RJ's accomplice. It seems like purposeful misdirection by the scriptwriter to state that  the others are innocent - more than one on the list could be RJ and/or his accomplices.

RJ would want to work closely with Jane to observe him - RJ obviously considers himself to be better than Jane - what better role for RJ than as Jane's superior?

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There has been many clues regarding the true identity of red john.
Some of the facts are: 
Red John is a man. (As referred to by many; Rosalind, Lorlei,...)
He has or uses an odd voice.
He is right handed! (Several killings with his right hand)
He is an artist or had the touch of an artist. (Pilot Episode)
He is older than 30. (His first killing was in 1998 probably at the age of 20)
He is someone like Jane. He cares about Jane. He is NOT jane. (Shook his hand, saved him.)
He is challenged by Jane and he loves the chase.(Returning the case to Jane after murdering Bosco.)
He enjoys watching people die. Most importantly, he preys on their pain.
He loves tea.(Season 1 finale.)
He has very good electronic skills. ( Hacking into CBI computers and networks.)
He is someone very close to the CBI and has friends in the FBI.

Some Clues: 
Kristina Fry told Jane that she spoke with his wife. His wife wants him to know that his daughter never woke up. Is she a real psychic? There are no real Psychics so she must be an accomplice. Red John might have wanted her to turn Jane but once he realized the opposite, he killed her.

It isn't anyone of his team. (Proof: Season 1 finale: Red John left the room when they arrived.)

Alex Jane( Patrick's father) is a good suspect. He taught Jane most the things he knows. Jane left him after the crystal incident. AJ wanted to get back to Jane by killing his family and waking him up from him pretending to be a psychic.

Those came to my mind at the spot. More evidence later

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Season 1 Episode 11

Jared claims to have information on Red John.
Jane goes to Minelli to re-open the case on Jared.
Minelli denies him.

Jared served time with Orville Tanner.
Orville Tanner provides Jared with details about Red John.
After Van Pelt finds out about Tanner, Minelli confronts her.
Later in the episode Van Pelts computer is contacted by Red John.
So is it possible Minelli was monitoring Van Pelt's station?
Also, why is it that Minelli eased up on suspending the team? 
Is it because he wanted to get Jared out of prison where he could kill him.

Minelli is in the room when they locate Renfro from the phone trace.

Written on the wall is "He is Man"
Possibly He is Manelli?

Season 1 Episode 23
We learn that Oliver Tanner was Red John's partner.
Oliver Tanner's son becomes Red John's disciple.
The son of Oliver Tanner is in his late 20's to 30's.
This would put Red John in the over 50 category.

We also learn about Rosalind Harker.
She describes Red John as not fat but not muscular.
She also says he likes listening to Bach

Season 5 Episode 5

Patrick Jane shakes hands with Virgil Minelli.



SO... If it is not Minelli... Who else is an educated male who is not over 6ft.  Not fat but not muscular.  Over the age of 50.  Has easy access to sensitive law enforcement sources and information. 

Not Brett Stiles that would be a horrible choice because it makes no sense for him to be Red John.

Not Gale Bertram







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