When Bruno Heller revealed to the actor who IS a suspect, that he was actually Red John, this was his reaction.

The actor was "stunned and flattered."

"Earning this little place in pop-culture history was the last thing I ever expected...Truth be told, I thought I thought I was a red herring." 

In the daylight, in a picturesque park, miles outside of Los Angeles, Patrick Jane chases down and slays Red John. There is noone else around, he is not accompanied by CBI. The moment of death itself, with Jane straddling Red John and looking into the eyes of his prey, is one of shocking intimacy.

How is Red John caught? Simon Baker: "He desperately wants a relationship with Jane to the point where he exposes himself and puts his life in jeopardy."

Red John was the leader of the Tiger Tiger conspiracy.

http://www.whoisredjohn.com/See-a-theory-Red-John/9300

The link above is to a detailed explanation of the events in Patrick's house. This piece about Bob/Michael Kirkland is not explained in the events as there are so many other things happening. So here's a separate theory, which attaches to Theory #9300, and can only be fully appreciated when both theories are read together.

Michael Kirkland: Alive.

Bob Kirkland was kept in county for 3 days before he was transferred to federal. During that time, Patrick visited him and revealed how Michael had killed Jason Lennon by impersonating Bob. Patrick is good at reading people. But here's how the audience knows:

- When he's killing Lennon he says "It's OK. I'm here for you, I won't leave you." He says it in an angry, sarcastic way.

- Bob Kirkland reveals to Patrick, he grew up and got away from his abusive father, but Michael just couldn't do it. Michael resented Bob for leaving. Bob even said "I was all he had."

- Michael turned to the bottle.

-When Kirkland says "I know in my heart, he's dead." He blames Red John for killing him. Bob is well aware that Michael is alive. But he knows the brother he knew is gone and a killer has taken his place. He blames RJ for this.

In prison, Michael is captured and switched with Bob.

Proof the man Reede Smith shoots is Michael Kirkland


When Reede says "You hit the nail on the head Bob," Michael rolls his eyes and he says "Aboout what?" Bob would know what he hit the nail on the head about... Michael wouldn't have a clue and would resent being called Bob.

"We've been keeping our eye on you for a long time." Reede could be talking about Michael or Bob. It's easy to capture Michael and switch him, if they've been monitoring Michael. Hence, Kirkland knew his brother was alive, but 'dead' figuratively.

Now when Reede Smith is talking to Agent Kirkland, Kirkland says "I know what you're doing," halfway through Reede's rehearsed speech. Either Michael or Bob could say that. 

How else do we know? When he stands in profile in the orange prison uniform, you can see he has what remains of his beer belly. Haha.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jane & John,

You are correct.

The whole Kirkland twin brothers stuff is stupid.

However, it is just NOT as STUPID as YOU!!

You can not even spell "Fucking" correctly. (fucken, ha!) LOL.......

You are nothing more than a pathetic, little Nazi wannabe.

Or as PJ would say, "You are a ghoul."

Get off the computer now, I do believe that you mommy is calling, time for your bath.

HA!

Peace.

So Partridge is still leading the race as most likely to be RJ.  Several people are in agreement that Stiles is Partridges' father also.  Okay, let's say this is true.  So this mean that more than likely Partridge was raised in the Visualize compound or with his father within the 'family'.   We know that Jane will be visiting his past (carnival life) during the Great Red Dragon and Red John episodes so how do you think these two events come into play together?   I'm stumped.  I can't think how Jane's earlier life would've impacted Partridge.-----------  Does anyone know if Stiles ever talked about a wife?  A former wife?  A former dead wife?    Hmmmmmm??????

http://thementalist.wikia.com/wiki/File:Vlcsnap-2012-10-09-23h24m43s165.png
Looks like Brett Partridge in Pj's mind 

Red john is just under 6'0 thats a very precise detail. Plotnick is the only one 5'11

Finally, at the end of Black Cherry this is when Pj may have thought Brett partridge is Red John by the expression he makes. 
He looks at the page with partridge's name on it but he has it shadowed  with his finger symbolizing something, then goes to flip to the next page, THEN he goes to flip back again http://images1.cliqueclack.com/p/wp-content/blogs.dir/8/files/2012/11/mentalist-jane-notebook.jpg
 because the light bulb came on his mind! Watch the expression! :) Its partridge and it says, "Totally Macabre" common you know its him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rjXOkCxUUw sarcastic voice around pj
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGbq8LuACeg real voice
 

http://thementalist.wikia.com/wiki/File:Vlcsnap-2012-10-09-23h24m43s165.png
Looks like Brett Partridge in Pj's mind 

Red john is just under 6'0 thats a very precise detail. Plotnick is the only one 5'11

Finally, at the end of Black Cherry this is when Pj may have thought Brett partridge is Red John by the expression he makes. 
He looks at the page with partridge's name on it but he has it shadowed  with his finger symbolizing something, then goes to flip to the next page, THEN he goes to flip back again http://images1.cliqueclack.com/p/wp-content/blogs.dir/8/files/2012/11/mentalist-jane-notebook.jpg
 because the light bulb came on his mind! Watch the expression! :) Its partridge and it says, "Totally Macabre" common you know its him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rjXOkCxUUw sarcastic voice around pj
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGbq8LuACeg real voice
 

Just seen Black-Winged Redbird - and I reckon its Brett Partridge - the Forensics guy...

Theory - he was there in episode 1. (screen-writers delight!)

Who says he's dead? If he can get into the CBI and burn people alive, if he can get people to kill themselves on a whim, etc - he can certainly create a make-believe death.

Was he really killed? I wonder!

Also - when Jane gets the telephone message regarding Lisbon - it sounds exactly the same as Brett Partridge!

If you had created a list of x people, and you were one of those people - bump yourself off the list and the pressures off!

Of course - there are probably many people involved, but I still think there's one guy heading it all up. Also as a forensics guy, he'd be doing "his thing". People invariably tend to do what they're into - and even as a character, he'd be "doing" what he's "good at"/"enjoys". Someone that enjoys cutting up bodies, enjoys the macabre, etc isn't really going to be sitting behind a desk - they're going to be in an environment where they can continue to experience that (distorted) "delight".

He's also, therefore, going know about evidence, he'd know about not leaving evidence/a trace of himself.

He is also very anti-Jane, and Jane has had a run in or two with him.

Theories that say it's Jane or Lisbon are blown out of the water by the recording made by Jane's psychotherapist - (a) it was a man she saw (b) it clearly wasn't Jane (though possible that she had her head messed with 'NLP stylee') - but then Jane would have been aware of the records being transcribed and would have most likely gotten rid of those as well as the records she kept and the records with the University.

Just a thought :)           (  <<OMG! Is that a smiley :S    )