WE HAVE BEEN SEDUCED INTO THINKING THAT RJ IS SOMEONE WITH THE WORLD AT HIS FINGERTIPS.  

It would be an easy MISTAKE:

to confuse that RJ seeks power --- with thinking that RJ is someone in a position of power

It's easy to imagine RJ as a cult leader, rich playboy, CBI insider, etc. -- BUT the truth about killers like RJ is that they are often unremarkable and overlooked, and subsequently in deep need of power.  Remember SJK Killer?  A total nerd, seemingly harmless and pretending to help out.  And real life BTK?  He didn't fit the image at all.  THAT'S the paradox.  They want power but they are NOT going to look like they have any.

THIS OMITS everyone on the List of 7 Suspects [that was fake anyway], as well as any other obviously powerful or arrogant person that Jane has come into contact with. 

A good question to ask:  WHO DOESN'T HOLD an obvious powerful position, who has been dismissed or overlooked by CBI [though not entirely discounted] -- and who we've seen to be both forgettable AND yet someone who needs to be heard?
 
ELL[HE]--IS--MARS

ADDING to my post Theory #6501

The design on Mars' business card 

FOUND THIS AT:  http://findingredjohn.wordpress.com/ellis-mars-profile-as-red-john/

Ellis Mars


1.White male

2.Mid 30s or older

3.Approximately 6’ tall

4.Brown hair

5.Shook hands with Patrick

6.Mentioned Patrick’s tragic loss.

7.Has attached himself to at least one CBI investigation (helping Patrick)

8.Business card with a red, tiger-faced image from which light is emanating

9.False psychic

10.The name ‘Ellis Lomar’ on a dossier on Bosco’s desk

ELL-IS-MARS


"EL" means HE in Spanish.  So....ELL or  HE  --  IS  --- MAR:       HE IS MARS


Am I disappointed?  Yes, I am.  

To think Ellis Mars is Red John seems fairly anti-climactic.  It is MUCH MORE FUN to think that Red John is a powerful Cult Leader and/or one of his minions, a stinking rich Socialite Playboy, a backwoods Sheriff, a CBI, FBI or Homeland Security insider, a creepy forensics Guy who has faked his own death LOL....and my personal favorite:  Jane's father or some long lost brother/rival from the old carnival days -- not to mention Jane himself!!

1.   And despite my disappointment, in many ways it makes PERFECT SENSE that Ellis Mars is Red John.  WHO really suspects him?  NO ONE!  There are only TWELVE other accusations of him on this website LOL!!  Because he acts like a bumbling buffoon parading around as an "astrologer" and "psychic" -- NO ONE TAKES that seriously.  What MORE perfect way to go undetected?  Plus, these types of killers are often very unremarkable -- and look and seem pathetic or normal, going easily undetected throughout their lives, amongst society.  BUT, they long to be someone.    

2.  Which is why Jane tells that serial killers like to get involved in their own investigations in some way, or as helpers, as did the very unremarkable SJK killer.  Remember that Ellis Mars popped up out of nowhere offering his services.

3.  Mars is also the right age -- actor "JOHN" Billingsly was born in 1960 -- which makes it easy for RJ to have killed in the 80's and on...putting RJ around the ages of 45-55.

4.  Ellis Mars definitely fits the physical description, and has the right kind of style, a sort of professorly appearance and having a great appreciation for the finer things in life, particularly literature and poetry.

5.  "I forgive your brusqueness. I can tell that you have been visited by great tragedy."―Ellis Mars to Patrick Jane.  How much of a thrill must it have given Mars to say this if he was the killer?  

The one question about Mars -- is wondering how someone like him in looks and demeanor could make people follow him or fall for him, like Lorelei -- but if in truth, Ellis Mars is smarter, craftier and talented in hypnosis, mind games and manipulation, WHY NOT?  You cannot fully know how attractive someone is until you know their full essence and inner attributes.  RJ always preys upon those who are lonely, lost, empty and in need of someone who KNOWS THINGS.

I think Ellis Mars successfully hid his true nature in "Red Moon"  and setting Jane up to write him off as a pathetic con man, which is perfect!  HOW smart and clever would RJ himself if he already got Patrick Jane to dismiss him long long ago?    And what's more, Jane has  BLIND spot to "PSYCHICS" -- he is both drawn to and repulsed by those who claim such a gift.  Look at his relationship to FRYE.  He NEEDS to either be FASCINATED with or have the ability to PUT DOWN anyone claiming to be psychic because of his own internal block about having been one, using those powers and what it cost him.  Jane may really be psychic, but he could never afford to be again, since he thinks it cost him his family.

Yes, truly sick that RJ would kill PJ's family because of PJ's psychic opinion -- only then to meet PJ in personal, claiming to be a the very thing that got PJ in trouble.

Yeah, my money is on Ellis Mars. 

Red John has imperceptibly manipulated things in order to make Patrick Jane come up with that specific list of suspects. That'a how Red John knew about the list before he killed Lorelei. But what Red John does not know is that Patrick Jane has seen through it and only pretends to have fallen into the trap. And this is how we can be sure that the list is not the real one.

Not accusing anyone here, just wanted to point out something interesting -

In Season 1, when the wrongly convicted prisoner that has info on Red John is murdered written on the wall is "He is Mar" or perhaps "He is Man"

Most assume that this clue has something to do with Red John but I couldn't help but notice that after the Red John saga supposedly concludes after episode 8 the rest of the episode titles are based off the color blue instead of red. "He is Mar" or "He is Sea" = "He is Blue" perhaps signifying that whoever murdered the ex-con wasn't Red John but this new blue-themed threat?

Obviously not a fully-formed theory, just thinking out loud in writing form, figured I'd throw it out there

I never understood and still do not understand how anyone, especially Patrick Jane, could suspect McAllister and Smith as being Red John. There is nothing of Red John's characteristics to be found in any of them. This two makes one believe that the list of 7 suspects may not be the real thing after all. As for the other suspects: Haffner's voice is too dark to resemble Red John's voice, Stiles is too old, Bertram is too old and too bald and Partridge appears to be too dead ... So that leaves only one suspect left (assuming that the list is not fake).

Kirkland is not intrested to know who Red John is (the murder of Red John's henchman in the hospital without asking about Red John proves that), he's just intrested in knowing exactly how much Patrick Jane knows.

Beside Patrick Jane, there's only two other characters who have great influence on other people: Stiles and Kirkland.

Don't know if he's RJ or related to RJ but I do think he'll be back: ELLIS (meaning PROPHET) MARS (WAR/BLOOD RED).