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

I've long suspected Haffner since the beginning, and many clues people here have pointed out, like him being the only suspect to call Teresa by her first name (a la RJ), or the fact that he uses his left hand like RJ, only add fuel to the fire.

One interesting thing I noticed when I rewatched the last episode Fire and Brimstone occured during the tattoo reveal scene. I noticed that when Haffner pulls down his shirt to expose his left shoulder, he does something inadvertently and/or sunbconsciously. The camera pans to him, and he doesn't just expose his shoulder like the other suspects. And he just doesn't point it out. He actually shows his shoulder, then runs his fingers in a horizontal direction, from the back of his body towards his front, where the tattoo would have been. You'll also notice that this direction corresponds to the decreasing sizes of the three dots.  It's almost like saying "see, I don't have it." He did this without seeing if anyone else had the tattoo, or even knowing what it looked like.

This is something that RJ could easily have covered, if he does in fact have it at all.

Another possible scenario is that RJ has a different tattoo at the same location as the Tyger, Tyger people, and this tattoo means that he is the boss/leader of the organization.

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely
Theory #11230 • By Stoopkid
Show this theory

People will 3 names are always the bad guy. I have been vigilant in my search for rj and sunday cant come soon enough. What if there is no red john and just a corrupt cop organization ? I would hate that but what better way for currupt cops to make people not suspicious of them than too make up a serial killer ?

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

Bruno Heller has said that Red John is not a "pathetic loser who is hiding out in a basement somewhere", and that Jane is "not fighting the Green River Killer. He's fighting Moriarty."  If we take that to be true, which I'm going to now

RJ cannot be the local cop pretending to be dumb, or the forensics guy who loves gore or the lower level FBI guy trying to make headway in a police mafia

POWER HIERARCHY from GREATEST to LEAST

1.  STILES:  
he's been the most obvious and formidable player from the start but also he's OLDER, seemingly meek, and HELPFUL to Jane, so we discount him but if we're looking for outward appearance of education, class and power -- it's him
2.  HAFFNER:  
I only put him this high because of his association to Stiles, who would seem to help and protect him
3.  BERTRAM:  He's Director of CBI -- BUT he answers to high authorities and sweats bullets doing it
4.  McALLISTER:  
he might be Rigsby's personal Moriarty, but he's not Jane's!
5.  SMITH:
 a Tyger Tyger henchman in the FBI and a killer but lacking slightly [insert sarcasm] in the social graces
6.  KIRKLAND:  DEAD -- 
but alas -- there's a TWIN -- who I think AT BEST would be an RJ HENCHMAN, not RJ himself because the Kirkland brothers grew up in a desperate wasteland of violence, alcoholism and suicide of their mother.  Hardly likely these boys would be afforded opportunities or education.  Bob Kirkland got into law enforcement, something a person from his background, similar to Rigsby, can do to better themselves when they come from nothing.
7.  PARTRIDGE: DEAD -- who of ANY of these people are going to take orders from Bret Partridge? LOL  Partridge is the one taking the orders.

I think it's interesting that the TWO MEN who likely have the LEAST POWER and authority are KILLED FIRST  

BRET STILES is the only one on that list that fits the bill of being a formable nemesis, though now weakened [by age or illness] and on the run from the FBI.  So, I'm going back to an older theory that I had that BS is RJ and he's had helpers,  perhaps the lower level guys like Partridge, Kirkland Twin and Smith.  Not sure though if I see Haffner as an RJ helper.  I think Stiles could be RJ right under Haffner's nose and he wouldn't know it LOL
 
Other than STILES -- the most powerful man on the Mentalist that we've actually seen is OSCAR ARDILES

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely

Contains Spoilers

From some advance reviews of "The Great Red Dragon" we know that "a character that we thought was long gone" will make an unexpected return.  We also know that "a frantic Lisbon puts her trust in possibly the worst possible person".  I'm guessing that if Bertram dies or is injured in the blast, she will confide in a former superior about The List before Patrick wakes up in the hospital.  Remember from the preview, Jane is AT the hospital on the phone with Rigsby, telling him to "trust no one, especially those in law enforcement."  Perhaps Minelli or LaRoche is the person from the past? 

I'd love for the person to be Kristina or Alex Jane, too.  Even the little girl from the carnival grown up (healing crystal).  I guess it just depends on what "long gone" means!

Thoughts?

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely


Alizarin John
Amaranth John
Amber 
John
 
Amethyst 
John
 
Apricot 
John
Aqua 
John
 
Aquamarine 
John
 
Asparagus 
John
 
Auburn 
John
Azure 
John

More John's to come after Red John

Argue on this theory or rate it.
plausible
unlikely
Theory #11220 • By darthpoet
Show this theory

S2e8 Why won't Rigsby drink tequila? He goes to get some Scotch. Anywhere else that's just a choice, but on a long well-thought out mystery it's a clue.

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