Who is Red John?

Share your own theory and rate other people’s

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

Theory #11161 • By darthpoet
Show this theory

"Red John doesn't make mistakes. Red John doesn't leave clues."
The whole PI fiasco was full of mistakes.
S2e2 Just how messed up is Lisbon? How did she catch the Red John case in the first place (before raggedy Jane strolled in).
Her t-shirt is fairly short sleeved, and I don't see dots.
She has the sports jersey #17 on her wall.
The jersey she wears is 99.
She always wears a gold cross.

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

What will the episodes be about after Red John dies? There are over fourteen episodes; this is why I am reluctant to say that Red John dies in the RED JOHN episode, yet what is the meaning of the episodes after the red john episode to not have a "red" of sort in the title?

( PLEASE ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS!!!!)

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

I’ve found
some clues that point directly towards Haffner as RJ in past seasons, and also
in this sixth season he gives away some small things (not the spider, that’s
just a silly clue).

 




First I
will summon the most important parts of his first two appearances:

 



                                                  S04E02 Little Red Book          

 



-> The
fake Red John was killed by Jane according to plan, the real one is in the clear now and finally risks
to step out of the dark to meet his antagonist.

  



-> At
the beginning Lisbon tells Jane that Haffner was FBI and very good at
wiretapping & surveillance. Later on, Lisbon is home alone and decides to
investigate the Timothy Carter case a little further. She wants to know whether he was RJ or
not. She calls LaRoche and asks him if she can visit the widow, Sally Carter –
she’s in jail.

 



Next scene:
Haffner is in a panicked hurry and tells Van Pelt (who was reporting about a
case-development) he’s busy. Not very professional of him and it clearly has a
reason. He probably wiretapped LaRoches phone and knows what Lisbon is planning.

 



When Lisbon
arrives at miss Carter’s cell she’s dead (fake suicide & fake letter that
acknowledges Timothy Carter as the real RJ).

 



-> I
also believe in the Heisman clue, which I read about on this magnificent website.
Plus Haffner is lefthanded.

 

 




                                               S05E13 The Red Barn

 



->
Haffner asks Lisbon to join his private project. Though the really important
question for him is how much the CBI knows about the Red Barn murders from 1988.
By asking about the names on Cooper’s archive-list he gives himself away. First
he looks relieved when it turns out his name isn’t mentioned in Cooper's info. But it was
impossible for him to know about this information, unless he’s Visualize
himself, a connection Lisbon easily makes. Haffner talks himself out of it as
best as he can.

 



This must
be a VERY loose end from 1988 when RJ was still young and careless, because Ray returns at the end and is upset the mother and
daughter will only go down for one Red Barn murder, instead of all three. Haffner
claims he speaks for his Visualize-clients, not for himself. Lisbon gets even
more suspicious. Ray, were you there? – Why would you ask me
that? We’re still friends, right?
  Lisbon apparently forgets to tell Jane about this. 

 

 




Haffner
returns in the current season. Not in the first episode, but Lisbon & Van
Pelt put GPS trackers on the suspect’s cellphones, which is his MO (remember
the wiretapping). Easy for him to use it against them.

 



                                       S06E02 Blackwinged Redbird



->
Lisbon’s dream. Her subconscious tells her something. Haffner betrays her and
attacks her. For Teresa he has always been the most likely RJ suspect (she
clearly has a better intuition then Rigsby and Cho, who are both betting on
Bertram).

When she
wakes up from her horrible nightmare, Jane calms her. A nurse passes by and
asks for Carmen Lee. This looks like an indirect way for Haffner to check if
Lisbon is all alone.

 



-> A
little while later he walks in. Lisbon fears him, although he tries being
charming (other than most women Lisbon reacts in a distant way on male charms,
she does that with Patrick & Mashburn too – at least before she ends up in
bed with him). First he checks if she remembers anything. Then he asks about
Red John again. Why do you care? – I don’t
care. I have clients who care.
 The clients again. He doesn’t
like her questioning. Before leaving he states that someday he and Teresa will
have the time, as saying the last time (when he knocked her out on a creepy location) they didn’t
cause something came up.

 



-> RJ’s pseudonym
when visiting Sophie Miller was Jay Roth. I supect Haffner of having German
blood for historical reasons, so a possible connection. Although this isn’t a clue - just a personal
hunch.

 

 




                                              S06E05 The Red Tattoo

 



-> Strange
episode. Why would RJ use a spy, especially such a fudgy one, to bug the CBI? And
if Haffner is RJ, it wouldn’t make sense at all because he’s the master bugger.
So must be a trap.

 



->
Finally we see one of Haffner’s “clients” with our own eyes, and then that
client is simply Cooper, the errand-boy of Visualize. His contribution to the
whole case is pretty useless + he failed to protect the dead guy, who also was
a client of his. Two possibility’s: or he’s a useless cop (which would
contradict Bertram’s & Lisbon’s first opinion of him in season 4) or he ain’t focused
at all (which would mean he’s all about the RJ case again).

 



->
Haffner meets Jane in the elevator. When they leave, he tabs on Jane’s shoulder
and tells him there’s a comeuppance coming his way. Jane replies you’re even a worse psychic than you’re a
cop.


So if he
wanted to make Jane believe he’s a bad cop, it definitely worked. But indeed, this
is a silly prediction also by Haffner. Unless…

 



-> He
gets the autopsy-report of the stabbed man before Lisbon. He claims that he
still has friends in CBI, they help him if he needs it. Maybe Bertram is his “friend”,
since he also knows that Jane riled some very powerful people (later on he advices Teresa & Grace to step away from Jane's tricky business).

 



-> After
Jane solved the case, Lisbon asks Cooper where Haffner went. He had some business to attend to. I am not his only client. Haffners
vague client-alibi again.


 



-> …
unless he had it all carefully planned ahead. And he already has the gathering
of the 5 remaining suspects in mind. Would be a nice trick if he foresaw Jane
finding out about the spy being RJ’s, and very well timing to assault her just
before police arrives. Best part of the trick is to let her live for a few
moments and make sure she mentions the tattoo, which was easy to fake (I mean,
three simple dots?). Now Jane is unwittingly going after the Tiger Tiger clan
instead of him. RJ allready killed an important member of that clan in the person of Partridge, whose task it was to make some Tiger murders look like RJ killings, even maybe Lorelei's. It's possible he wanted to lure them Tigers out by taking away their forensics expert. 




 

 

                                             S06E06
Fire and Brimstone


 



-> For
the first time we hear Ray making a call with a real client, about a woman that
needs to be kept quiet. When he meets Teresa in a coffee bar, Lisbon can’t
help showing through she suspect Haffner as RJ. He now acts very well: not much
hesitation, just pretending angry and determined about it. You wanna question me you arrest me. An innocent man would, despite
of liking her very much, now detest Lisbon for good. But he kind of forgives her
immediately. And sticks with the plan. He wants to see how Jane will lay focus
on the wrong guys.


 



-> After
Jane tricked Lisbon and leaves her on the side of the road on his way to Malibu, the first car she
lifts for drives trough. It’s a Mercedes, and possibly the same Mercedes
Haffner drives. If it’s him, he off course will stop for no one, especially not
Lisbon, because at this point he cannot derive from the trap he (and not Jane)
set up. This is no real clue, more of a feeling it was him.

 



-> Once in
the house in Malibu RJ has to make one important move: make sure the Tigers get
rid of their guns. So he stands up (I don’t
have time for this crap
) and forces Jane into taking the riffle and disarm the rest. Now his
real targets, the Tigers, are suddenly in a very vulnerable position. He is laughing at the inside, because Jane is dancing as his perfect puppet.
Maybe Jane has a counter-trick planned, we’ll that see in the next episode.


 

 




So, to
conclude: if Haffner will turn out NOT to be Red John, I’ve been misled very
well :)
 
Though I can't help but imagine him sitting across Jane in a quiet place, saying oh, why do people always call me Red John
anyway? That’s just a stupid name, isn’t it?


         

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

I know it most most most likely didn't happen but how funny would it be if the PI actually saw the tattoo on Red John's right shoulder but because she was facing him and in a state of panic told Patrick it was the left. Red John could have lucked the fuck out there...


Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

I think we've exhausted the theories on who Red John is based on evidence, so here's my theory on how Jane catches Red John based on evidence...

Jane chases Mcallister into the Park. Dumps muffins all over him and he gets mauled by pigeons. Mcallister has panic attack from his fear of pigeons and faints. Patrick Jane ties him up and holds him down. Tom wakes up and Jane slices him up. End Scene.

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

Maybe the dumbest theory you ever read, but I hope it entertains. 99% of us are going to be wrong, so I thought I might join the party.

For anyone whose read theories about Partridge being Red John, with his accomplice being Ray Haffner, who partakes in some Red John killings, I've got a bonus theory. It's how Red John guessed the list. I write it at the end.


First: Evidence for the Red John(Partridge)/Haffner relationship

- Ok Bret Stiles knows Red John. Stiles been flying around the country in a jet owned by a man called Ryan Parks.


 Red John gathers his minions from Visualise.

- Police cop who turns up when Jane shoots Timothy Carter
- Woman feeding pigeons can be seen in Visualise ceremony
- Red John was a member of Visualise in the late 80s
- Haffner is in Visualise

Haffner's suspected doings

- Ray Haffner tracks down Rosalynd Harker for Red John, as she is someone from Jane's past (Maybe the dying girl he conned)

- The Plaskett's room is wire-tapped. Ray Haffner solves high profile cases by wire tapping according to LaRouche.

- Haffner tracked down Jared Renfrew in Mexico. He is a creative surveillance expert.
- "Heisma" -if you were dying, would you bother with the "He is" with only the "H" capitalised.
This points to it being essential to part of the clue. "Heisman" is a name.

- Haffner tracks down Patrick Jane in a warehouse- creative surveillance 
- Haffner is a skilled marksmen. He shoots the copycats. His actions in that scene are very robotic, as Haffner is just doing the movements, waiting for Partridge to do the voice.

- Haffner is sent to the hospital to see what Lisbon remembers
- Haffner paints Lisbon's face - he draws the eyes vertically, Visualise ritual style!

Now you might say: Wow, so much evidence? Surely, Red John is Haffner. If you read Partridge theories you'll see why you can't shake that Partridge is Red John. Sometimes they can be hard to understand, but they do make sense.

So how did Red John guess the list?
If there is no such thing as a psychic:

- Isn't it weird how Sean Barlow knows where Lisbon is?
- Isn't it weird how he knows Patrick has been keeping secrets from her?
- If Red John is leading Patrick through the case, Red John is sure Patrick will visit Barlow
- Red John knows Barlow from the carnival. Theory #8587 shows Brett Partridge was in the carnival. Red John tells Barlow this information. Barlow was "expecting" them.

But how did Red John know so much about Lisbon and Jane? Lisbon is bugged. Yes, bugged. Lisbon has been bugged, bugged, bugged!

Now in the car, Lisbon is asking Patrick about revealing the list all day.

- When does Patrick crack? After the visit to Sean Barlow. Sean Barlow manipulated Jane. He made Jane feel bad. Eventually, he slipped the name Gale Bertram to her. Then something happens in the episode. But, surely, later, Jane told Lisbon ALL the names on the list.

Another weird thing happens: Miriam Gottlieb, Red John's accomplice arrives like 3 hours late to her house. What was she doing in that time? She was collecting the CD from Red John.

The woman you saw in 5 x 16 killed, was Miranda Roman, Lorelei's sister. Why was Gottlieb late? RJ was making the CD. They never found Miranda Roman's body. Lorelei's bullet wound had suddenly healed? We know Red John can preserve bodies. Remember the frozen Dr Towlen Morning?

Lorelei Martins is still alive. The trick was Red John was keeping her alive, and heard the list from Lisbon who was bugged. Then he made Lorelei read the list.

In episode 5 x 22, Red John's Rules, Lisbon reveals her happy memory is her mother feeding pigeons. In episode 2, season 6, a Partridge imposter is there feeding pigeons to trick Jane. But instead, Jane tricks John! From that point on Jane starts lying relentlessly to Lisbon, to mislead Red John. Red John hears Jane showing the vocal recorder to Lisbon

-"Acaraphobia" is said aloud as "acrophobia" to mislead Red John. Suddenly McAllister and Smith are conveying a fear of heights...
-Sophie Miller says "RJ is a very good whistler", and suddenly every one of the freaking suspects EXCEPT Kirkland, whistles after the recording is heard.
-Therefore, every one of the suspects except Bob Kirkland are under instructions from Red John

- Cue theory #10330  #JanebeatsRedjohn 


When Lisbon first bugs the suspects, Ray Haffner hears from Lisbon's bug. He tells Brett Partridge as they both realise they've been bugged. Brett's already at West Huron... Uh oh! Haffner leaves his phone somewhere. And he goes and helps Partridge fake his death.

But they keep Lisbon alive, because she's a valuable source of information. Jane realises eventually that RJ bugged Lisbon.

Instances in which Patrick Jane misleads Red John, by talking crap to Lisbon:

- Pretending he doesn't see the Partridge imposter reassures RJ that Patrick doesn't suspect Partridge, and that Patrick doesn't know Lisbon is bugged

- Pretending "acaraphobia" is acrophobia, its eaier to see suspect's reactions, to see which of them are under instructions from RJ.

- Pretending that RJ bugged the CBI, and that RJ killed Kira Tinsley, and that RJ has a red tattoo

-Teresa asks Haffner to come to the meeting, then Partridge sends his father a note saying "Patrick Jane is looking for you"

- Patrick ditches Teresa in dramatic fashion to get to his house


Eventually Patrick gets all 5 suspects in a room. What happens next?

Jane's plan will unfold. He will kill Red John soon. If you like the theory, press plausible, please :)

Thanks for reading, now watch this hilarious video of our "Mentalist".

Jane practising his dance moves for Red John's grave:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZjb_pcOu8o























Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

Bruno said "There is a clue buried in that final sequence that will pay off big time
in the finale of the Red John story. A very big clue. No one will get
it from the clue as it is laid out in the episode, but it will pay off
later." 
We were looking for it in wrong places. It was simple.
It was Partridge's words "Tyger, Tyger"! We couldn't understand the situation in that episode but in 6x04, with Kirkland's explanations, it got some meaning and it's been unfolding since then. Of course, it will have a connection with RJ because he already had uttered this word in the third season finale. I think it's not curtains, 666 or else. It's a useless clue right now because we already know "Tyger Tyger" but I think it was the clue Bruno had mentioned.

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely
Follow us on