First of all. I just want to criticize some theories that have come up on this site. 
Red John is not Bob Kirklands brother. Red John is someone on the list. He is asking if the suspects recognize him because it was his twin brother that Red John murdered. 
Red John is someone on the list. Heller has confirmed it several times. It's someone of the guys. It's the real cards on the table. It's not Alex Jane that has gotten a plastic surgery neither is it CBI Ron or Patrick Jane himself. It's unlogical, contradicting and would not fit in with the Mentalist-mystique. Those who have watched this show long enough and in detail knows this. 
Red John is most likely somewhat associated with the "Tyger Tyger-Conspiracy". It's not likely he is not. Of course he is. Why would he have first read the Blake poem to Patrick if not? A coincidence? No. That's really phony. 
Then who is Red John?
Ray Haffner, I would say. He has the right looks, the right age, he Visualize-connections and of course he is a good actor. He has the right level of creepyness to. I hope it's him, although I'm not sure at all. It could be anyone and if we know Bruno Heller we could be up for another crazy twist. 
I wish for Red John being a singular individual. Something else would be disappointing. 
Cheers. 

I think i watched all episodes. Believe or not, i wrote that before the first episode of this season. I was willing to rewatch some episodes, but after the last one, i dont have to.


Rj it's someone That Looks silly, even ingenous, not smart enough. Like clark kent in some movies. Not someone with a gangster face. That face he will only show when he gets caught. Like all of his associated did when were exposed as who the really were.

Why it shouldn't be Brett Patridge? Looks like a psychopath (the way we would picture someone like RJ), and the most important, he was the most popular suspect before ep.1 of this season. "Who's RJ" it is Bruno Heller puzzle. How Bruno Heller, the master mind, not PJ, his alter ego, would feel about probably the most famous blog about his puzzle indicates as the most likely?

Why it shouldn't be Robert Kirkland? Mysterious, Gagnster style, looks like a psychopath, (the way we would picture someone like RJ). One of the most interesting thing of the show it's the whole influence Rj has, how he get everything done. Bruno wouldnt show Rj acting way so clear (killing and getting the list) . RJ is tôo confident to fear or even think to be caught and he doesnt need a "good friend", Rj hás a lot of friends, everywhere. He was associated in some way with Rj, and now wants to find out Rj is. He's relieved that wasn't recognized, which may mean he is safe and Rj doesnt know who he is.

Why it shouldn't be Gale Bertram? No way he doesnt know how to play poker (and he wouldn't waste his time like that). RJ knows that Lisbon is in love with PJ, if Bertram would consider to trust Lisbon, was to get RJ and not to betray PJ. Besides (added now), in this season he's acting creepy, like he's smarter than we thought before.

Why it shouldn't be Sherrif and Reede? Sherrif has the ingenous way it would take, but he appeared few times. And Reede presents him self as someone smart and deceptive, even angry. I read this below in someone's theory:

"it makes more sense to allow the viewer to create his/her own perception about a recurring character, and then smash those perceptions. So that eliminates the Sheriff and Reede."

Why it shouldn't be Brett Stilles? Presented as someone smart like PJ, and powerfull. RJ wouldn't feel threatened by someone trying to take his seat. Brett is too old and a PJ friend (they get along very well). It's how charming and smart RJ should act, but the thing is, it's all presented since the beggining. RJ wouldn't help PJ get Lorelei out of prison.

(until the end, added now) I didn't think about Ray Haffner, i wrote nothing about him. I thought would be nice to be Partridge, but wouldnt be a surprise for anyone, and for the others reasons. Same with Brett Stiles, Bertram, Kirkland. Many wanted them to be. Now i realized, the guy i saw no reason to be, someone even boring, was Ray Haffner. I didn't want him to be. This last episode (ep.4), made me realize that. Sheriff is a good characther to be RJ, acted well in the room with the others 2 suspects (played dumb), but he didnt appeared enough before, and know shows as someone who would make sense, then... its probably not him. But it's my second choice (i prefer him, not Ray, but i would bet for Ray)

Why i say that? Bruno Heller writting style. To surprise us with the other characther side. The Partridge painting would be a fake clue, the thing about the book with the killer dying and reappering later, should be too.

Well, this last episode showed, at least, that Bertram is chasing RJ and that Reede is low ranked (RJ investigating murders and complimenting an office showing proud?).

It was long, but my only one theory.
thanks for reading.

Hi,
For along time I thought Red John was Reede Smith ..... BUT

1. Always disregarded Partridge (DEAD NOW) and Stiles and Kirkland (DEAD NOW) as Red John - just didnt make sense it was them.

2. After Gale Bertram, Thomas McAllister and Reede Smith met as a secret law enforcement group get together with someone else in charge ... ALARM BELLS who could be giving the orders ...... Ray Haffner.

Anyway from thinking it was Reede Smith now to Ray Haffner my favourite to being Red John. 

As for what is going to happen - I agree with the previous guess .. Van Pelt/Rigsby/his infant son something nasty is going to happen to them all or just one in the final episode. 

I'd always thought it was Stiles until a few episodes ago when I switched
to Haffner.  I thought of a good reason though why it can't be Stiles. 
He is a famous cult leader, how could he have gone to the psychiatrist
with a different name without her recognizing him?

They're
showing way too much happy time between Van Pelt and Rigsby, which can
only mean one thing.  They're going to get slaughtered by Red John.  I
would love to see Cho then go nuts and kill Red John after PJ finds him.

Ray Raffner is Red John because he has a tiger face with gastritis

Red John is Ray Haffner (assuming it's one of the final 5 suspects).
When Red john saved patrick jane in the season 2 finale he used the phrase, "Roll tide", which relates to football. When Ray Haffner asks Cho to come to his office, there's a Heisman trophy behind him, which means Ray Haffner played football in his earlier days. Remember When lisbon asked Ray if he was at the eliston farm in 1980 something (because he was 21 and a new member of visualize), he replied, " we're still friends right?".

He has this creepy vibe and seems to be interested in Lisbon, remember Red john spared Lisbon (thank god :P).

Also, Haffner is a master of surveillance techniques and the physical descriptions fit him perfectly.

I feel when we find out who RJ is in episode 8, and most likely when Patrick gets his revenge, there will still be 5 more episodes in the season covering the "tyger tyger" conspiracy group that consists of people Like Reede smith and many other people in law enforcement. We will also get to see jisbon develop to the point where jane expresses his love to lisbon =).

Sorrry for spoilers but most of this seems true! (all this information was gathered through multiple theories on this site and watching every single episode of the mentalist more than once).

Old clue, but a really very good one:

Kristina Frye is dining with Jane and to show her psychic abilities to him, she reads a waiter and reveals the Alabama football slogan 'Roll Tide' as part of her reading.

Later, when Red John rescues Jane he recites The Tyger to him, and then in telling Jane that Kristina sends her love (i,e, revealing to Jane that he has abducted her) he then taunts Jane with Roll Tide.

There is no way that Kristina tells Red John about the reading of the waiter and what she said to him in that detail. Think about it. She is abducted and terrified no doubt. This is inconceivable. There is only 1 way that RJ knows the Roll Tide connection, and only 1 reason he says it to Jane. He has already told him he has Kristina, so by saying Roll Tide also, it is solely to taunt him that he was listening in on that lunch. Either he was at a nearby table, or more likely, he has Jane under constant surveillance and bugs. His taunt of 'Roll Tide' is to gloat about this surveillance.

Who esle do we know, amongst the 5 remaining suspects, is it factually known to be a master expert of surveillance?