I believe Van Pelt is Red John's sister and they have lost a common sister.
- Red John killed a twin and spared the other as well as he killed Lorelei's sister but spared Lorelei. It might be his serial killer pattern (excluding his strategic murders): a sister lives the other dies
- Van Pelt mentioned once that a sister of hers died but then denied it saying that it was just a trick to comfort a victim's relative
- O'Loughlin wormed his way in the CBI by getting involved with Van Pelt as if RJ knew exactly how to act with her to get her or as if she was totally aware of the plot (no normal girl would get engaged that quickly, and the engagement part wasn't really a needed storyline expect to make sure that Van Pelt is believed to have been fooled by O'L)
- Bret Stiles as well as another Visualize character were quite intrigued by her and whatever she's trying to hide
- The fact that she chose to stay with the CBI team over Rigsby makes me think that she might be an active associate of RJ and that it requires for her to stay there (may I add that she only joined the CBI after Jane did)
