Some observations on my part:

for starters, I think the idea of the list as a plot element is very good, it helps build suspense and anticipation of the final reveal. But for me, the list is poorly done. From what I saw in the show, right off the bat I eliminated Kirkland, Stiles and Smith, then Partridge was killed off in the season premiere so really 45 minutes into the list of seven and we're down to three. I thought the list should have consisted of more exciting names, or basically just characters that don't make you write them off immediately. This format of going from one suspect to the next in each episode is wrong because it takes away a lot of the suspense, and in my opinion ordinary murder investigations just get in the way of the main story arc.
Also, I think Red John is on the list. I like what someone said in one of the theories, that we shouldn't overthink and overanalyze. Heller said we could trust the list so assuming he isn't blatantly lying to his own audience (he could have just kept quiet), we can expect RJ to be one of Bertram, McAllister and Haffner. And I don't understand why people assume the list is fake, or a trap of some kind. Unlike the list that Kirkland had stolen, this one was in Jane's head, and Red John somehow managed to come up with the same names.
As for the way Jane narrowed it down, I think it was weak and far-fetched. Out of more than a thousand people whom he had shaken hands with, he eliminated all those who couldn't have commited the Red John attributed murders. I find some things very shaky with this line of thinking. For one, the assumption is that RJ actually did commit all of the murders he's suspected of, Note here that getting only one murder scene wrong would be enough to leave RJ off the list, not to mention the fact he could have had a disciple do some of the killing. But now comes the really incredible part - Jane was somehow able to remember the whereabouts and alibis of dozens of people for the RJ murders. This begs the question how Jane would even go about finding all of this out, particularly considering Lorelei told him about the handshake fairly late in the game. Just doesn't seem plausible at all.

I noticed that quite a bit of theories here focus on the fact that a certain actor is listed in the episodes revolving around Red John, and so they have to be the primary suspect. I disagree with this because it should be easy to leave a name out of the cast list. Imagine you are Bruno Heller, you and your writers invested time and energy into closing the RJ story arc, only to have it all blown wide open by the simple fact that IMDb lists some actor for the Red John episode. Something as simple and irrelevant as a cast list should not play a part in one of the bigger reveals in recent television. If Heller really allowed such a blunder and it turned out you can actually guess Red John's identity simply by looking at the cast list for 608, then I will have no words. 

I thought the show was rather poorly written and I haven't changed my mind watching the current season. There are, as always, tons of clues spread around randomly, only to thow us off, and the problem is that some of them are forced and completely implausible. For instance, Haffner and his whistling in Lisbon's hospital room. Your colleague, whom you supposedly like, was injured in the line of duty and left at the mercy of a ruthless murderer, you visit them in the hospital and afterwards almost go out of your way to whistle as you casually stroll out of the room. Give us some credit, Bruno. It's so out of place and unnecessary. Then there's McAllister's supposed fear of heights and pigeons and whatever. I just hate it when the show stoops to these lows.

There are some very nice theories here and I enjoy reading the site, but sadly The Mentalist is mostly in The Killing mould, meaning we can't really draw any strong conclusions based on known info, we have to wait for them to show us who did what. And I seem to be in the minority here as I consider the Tyger Tyger organization to be a nice plot point, it adds to the dynamic of the show if done properly.

Looking forward to new theories and finally closing the Red John case.

Not accusing anyone. Just wanted to say, can we PLEASE stop with the RJ is a vigilante, he only kills the corrupt cops, he kills the Tyger Tyger members, etc theories? RJ isn't a Robin Hood kind of character. He's a cold blooded murderer. He killed Jane's innocent wife and poor little kid for no reason! There is absolutely no way whatsoever to justify that. He's just a bad guy. Please accept that and stop posting,theories that try to paint RJ as some kind of misunderstood hero. Thank you!

So guys I've followed this site for several weeks, reading every theory and even though I can not prove my theory fully, I want to share it with you:

It's kinda long so stay with me here :)


Assumption

In my eyes Red John did not kill Jane's Family. I believe it was the Tyger Tyger organization, tricking Jane to join the CBI and helping them to find their rival, Red John.

Don't get me wrong, i still think Red John is a murder, but he did not kill Jane's Familiy.

Why do i think that?

We hear the Tyger Tyger poem the first time RJ saves Jane. It's obvious that he means the Tyger Tyger organisation with that poem, but why give Jane the hint?

Red John pretty sure knows that the Tyger Tyger organisation killed Jane's Family and tries to feed him hidden infomartions.

Now In the Desert we see Jane facing Partridge and getting a bit nervous. As stated often before, he possibly told this the Tyger Tyger organisation and they decided to kill him due to him being a too big risk.

Before Partridge dies, he tells Lison "Tyger Tyger". She tells that Jane and he acts as if he doesnt know what it means, but i'm very sure he understands the there is some kind of organisation (maybe already knows for sure).

My Theory is, that the List of 7 are all members of the Tyger Tyger organisation and thus rivals of Red John.

Now the question is why are they rivals? This will be revealed further in the plot IF my theory is correct.

I believe that Jane will find out the truth about the death of his family, killing all involved with the help of Red John and in the end they part away, as Red John is not the real Killer of Jane's family and all he lives for is revenge that he has gotten.



So guys, tell me if you find any twists or impossible things in my theory (no doubt you will) so we can discuss this :)

RedJohn isn't someone on the list of 7 and it isn't someone who is dead or an obscure character who has only appeared once It's Patrick Jane.

Just wanted to point out a possible clue for Ray haffner as red john in the next episode . In the sneak peek the prominent murdered visualize member is male and in the promo we see a female character being attacked by an unknown assailant ( probably red john ) I believe that she's red john next victim and jane and his team will figure it out and hurry to save her so red john escapes before they arrive and the woman is still alive she will probably murmur a few words that would be a big clue and then die anyway as to haffner since he is joining the investigation we can just notice if he's with the team while they're on thier way to the woman or not if yes then he's not red john another interesting fact in the sneak peek Jason cooper says that he's haffner visualize Client so he sent him to the hospital to ask Lisbon about thier investigation about red john and in turn Jason cooper will tell stiles that doesn't accuse anyone it was just an idea

I believe Red John is Rob Kirkland's twin brother, Michael.

1. We have not heard anything of him until now

2. We have been told by Rob that their mother committed suicide due to their father being a drunk which let to his brother becoming a drunk

3. Rob tells us that he tried to help his bother but later on tells us that his twin brother had "help from someone" which could have been Bret Stiles.

4. Bret Stiles tells us that he knows Red John personally which could indicate that Stiles helped Rob's brother which back fired and turned him into a killer?

5. Rob also tells us that he believes Red John killed his brother because he never heard from or seen him after he had help from this person

All angles line up with Michael... He is my est bet of being Red John.

6x01 - Jane sees that Lisbon is calling him, but when he picks up expecting Lisbon, RJ answers.

However, when RJ hangs up from Lisbon's phone, there is a *click* then dial tone. Last I checked, cell phones don't have dial tones.

Hmmm....