I suspect that Robert Kirkland is red john because when he bumps in pj and patrick asks if he knows Kirkland he replies "no but I know you" he also shakes hands with patrick and at the end of the episode where we see patrick Jane's first case when the woman in the limo ( don't know her name) says that patrick used to be in an insane asylum she looks in to the front of the car and says it's done there sits Kirkland and he says "good"

Obviously Robert Bob Kirkland. 

Whenever a case comes to CBI which is about Red John, Kirkland appears there suddenly and the case goes directly to the Inland Security. 

You can watch on YouTube ( v=L5-H9QGov4Y ) Patrick Jane and Robert Bob Kirkland first meeting video that their first shaking hands as Lorelei mentioned about it. 

My theory is Bob Robert Kirkland is obviously Red John.

I think that Robert Kirkland is Red John. When he met Patrick first time they shake hand and Robert knew who is Patrick and whole that situasion with his investigation is very suspect to me.
I am sorry because my bad english but... :D

I think it's Robert Kirkland. We saw him in 4 episodes only, and yet each of those four brought an important twist to the story.

He was the person in the car at the end of the episode 5.05,
he was there when Lorelei escaped,
he prevented Jane from driving in the ambulance in 5.16. and thus possibly finding out the RJ's name.

I'll see if I can find other indications, but my hunch is that RJ might be Robert Kirkland.

I believe Red John to be Robert Kirkland for one subtle reason. It was hinted in the 100th episode that Kirkland was Red John because of his one line "Thank You", however if The Mentalist has taught us anything it is that Bruno Heller loves a good twist. So in the episode where you find out Red John worked at the visualize farm it concluded with Jane saying he remembers the name of every single person who's hand he's shook having missed one or two names. These one or two names is HUGE. Go back and watch the first time Kirkland meets Patrick Jane here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtlMX_Y6EvI. Jane never gets the name of the man who's hand he just shook. It is just assumed by the audience Jane remembers this man. I believe that this is one of the two or three people who Jane will skip out on when retracing his steps over all the people he has met because he doesn't know who this person is.

There are many more obvious reasons why it could be Kirkland such as the voice or build or he's the right age and would have right connections but with the Mentalist it never is obvious.

Robert Kirkland makes a good suspect.
Features all fit. He has a potentially red john voice.
To quote another theory:
Theory #381 • By LGFUAD 
"1.  Season 5 Episode 5 (Red Dawn)

At the end of the show, the director of FBI Alexa Shultz started chatting up to the first CBI director that we know of (Virgil).  She revealed to him that for the past year Patrick was in an asylum.  What purpose revealing this piece of information served for her or Red John, I dont really have much of a clue yet (perhaps to limit Patrick's points of access to information the CBI had on Red John by worrying the director? Or to motivate Virgil to keep tabs on Patrick as to how far he is with the investiation), but after hanging up she immediately she said "It's done" and faintly smiled at some man(Bob Kirkland) seated opposite to her.

He simply said 'thank you' in a soft, noticeably chilled voice. You could easily imagine his voice and Red John's voice being pretty similar.  Furthermore, I believe that conversation between Alexa Shultz and this Bob Kirkland, was pretty suggestive of him being some senior officer in relation to Alexa Shultz. I may be somehow wrong about this but what is this guy doing with a HomeLand security badge later as we see in episode 7?

2. Season 5 Episode 7 (If it Bleeds, It Leads)

PJ: " Do I know you?" 
Bob: "No.. But I know you"

His encounter with Patrick seemed pretty intentional frankly speaking. And all that sortof eerie background music... A bit suggestive. Also, while speaking with Lisbon, he seemed a little uncomfortable with his posture and he was stuttering a little in the beginning... "

Not only this, but he did in fact shake Janes hand. Important info to say the least.
The only problem is that this seems too obvious, and a little boring. 
Thoughts?

R J K

Red John

Robert Kirkland

Red is a nickname for Robert :|


Middle name for RK ?  Is there a J?

Who else has these initials?