Bertram is Red John because:

-He is on the list of 7 suspects
-He drinks tea
-He is the director of CBI so he has power
-When he first met Jane he called him boy wonder which is what Jane's father used to call him and if 
Bertram knows that it explains how Red John knew about Jane's past on the season 5 finale.
-On the Season 3 finale Bertram mentioned the word rope which gave the clue to Jane that O'Laughlin was the CBI mole and that led to Jane being framed which is what Red John wanted because he told Jane the Tyger Tyger poem.
-Jane said Red John would be at the mall at the end of the season finale and because Timothy Carter wasn't Red John then Red John was actually there which leaves Bertram.
-Bertram is familiar with the William Blake poem
-Its likely that Bob Kirkland works for Red John and on season 5 we see that Bertram has some kind of friendship with him when they was trying to figure out what Lisbon and Jane was up to
-Bertram helped in trying to frame Hightower in 3x16 when he informed La Roche about Hightower's relationship with one of Todd Johnson's victims
-He is the right age going off when Red John killed his first victim in the 80s which is shown in 5x13
-The episode where Bertram shook Jane's hand was was wrote by Bruno Heller.
-As the CBI director he can watch Jane's every move and take him off any case he wants so he has power over Jane

Yes Bertram is over 6ft and he is half bald but Rosalind Harker met Red John before season 1 and because she is blind it makes her unreliable. Bruno Heller has also said that some clues left to Red John's identity are fake so what if the height is a fake clue that would mean there isn't much points to make about him not being Red John.
 

if red john know about the list of seven when lorelai was alive .... why he want to break jane s room a few episodes later and stole it ??? i think we could exclude Bob Kirkland .... i bet all my money on Bertram ... we know red john was always one step in front of jane .... in the season 3 finale he played his game because he anticipate jane s game when van pelt boyfrient told about that CBI woman ( i don t  remember her name ) ... so i think red john is one of : Bret Stile / Bertram / Patridge / Ray Haffner ... bret stiles i think is to old and we know red john work at that farm were was found 2 dead peoples ( and bret stiles was owner of visualize and i think he couldn t work there because he was the boss ) ... the sheriff and that FBI agent i don t know why are at that list ... but the writers are not stupid and i think they have their role ... 

I really dislike the theory that Partick is Red john, i think it will loose the point of the plot of the drama, its nice to have faith that Patrick could actually be the only one that can out smart red john. 

I also dislike the theory's on that it is the main characters. 

Wayne Rigsby - I think the way He acts in most of the episodes, is proof that he's not red john, he is a bit too clumsy, and makes allot of mistakes, while i think red john is a bit more careful and meticulous 

Cho - I don't think its cho, He looks so small to fit into the 6" guideline and also, we are also lead to believe that red john is a white man, so this could rule cho out. 

Lisbon + Grace - While many people think that red john could be in fact, a girl, we are lead to believe that  red john raped Miranda before he killed her and the silhouette we see of red john in episodes, is defiantly not womanly, Just because Lisbon is so interested in what Patrick is up to doesn't mean she is a killer, i mean wouldn't anyone want to know what he was thinking about red john? i certainly would! 

While i do think Brett partridge could be a likely suspect to be red john, there are a few reasons why i think this could not be plausible. 

1) He shows an active dislike for Patrick  don't you think red john would be a bit more clever, than going shouting  his mouth of about how he actively dislikes him? 

2) Whenever he's at a crime scene, he is always trying to persuade Patrick that it was red john who committed the murder, when it turns out that it was not red john who did it, or trying to convince Patrick it was red john, when it wasn't, i think red john would be a bit more clever,  Trying to throw Patrick off guard that way, its a bit of an half-hearted attempt isn't it? 

3) He's a bit too easy to find, he works at the CBI in the forensics, while this would explain why no DNA or evidence if ever found leading to red john, (because he knows what he's doing) he's a bit too easy to find, and Lorelei wouldn't of treated it as,much of a task when seeking was him out, if he would be working at CBI in the morning. 

I think Brett Styles could be Red john, as he is good at manipulating people, shown when he nearly convinces grace to join visualize, He has the money and power, and could be quite hard to find when Lorelei was out to get him, as i could see him quite easily being able to disappear without a trace. Also whenever Patrick asks him for a favour, it always turns out in red johns advantage. He wanted Patrick to find kristia Fry, But however, Red john seemed to be angry that Lorelei told Patrick that He had met him. I think If it is not Brett Styles, Red john might of used to be a member of visualize  and may of admitted some things he regrets saying, in one of them one-to-one meetings they have at visualize to "clear their conscience", and scared Bret stiles into being one of his allies.

I also think there is a chance it could be Gale Bertram, Patrick had him as a suspect in the episode "strawberry's and cream", He obviously Has a bit of a dislike for him, and thinks he is capable of killing someone, while Patrick said in an earlier episode that brett styles "could not hurt a fly"

One thing is certain to me that Jane planted that list on Red John (him smiling on seeing the misplaced tooth pick says it all).

According to the list it will look stupid if RJ is either one of Reede Smith or Sheriff McAllister.

Bret Stiles looks too old to fit as being RJ.

Bob Kirkland doesn't fits the bill as he has been made too certain to be guessed as RJ.

Ray Haffner - It doesn't seems like that he possesses the skills to be RJ. I'll be highly disappointed if he is revealed as RJ.

Now Brett Partridge looks a possibility, but again he also has been made too obvious to be guessed.
If I have to go by the list than my money is on Gale Bertram. His quoting the poetry (from the same writer or something) in one of the episodes can't be a co-incidence.

As I said that I believe that the list is fake, coz it's not Jane's list it's RJ's list.

So, this leaves us with only 3 possible suspects -

1. Jane's Father - I don't think that any father will do these kind of things to his son. So he's most unlikely to me. And also I think Jane will consider his father to be on the list.

2. Teresa Lisbon - "Keep your friends close and your enemy's closer" gives me odd vibes about her. The only thing which goes against her is the description by the blind lady. But I can't understand why RJ will leave a person alive who can explain his personality other than his own accomplices.

3. Patrick Jane - Too much references to the conscious and subconscious thing in the series makes him a highly possible suspect but I do think if that's to be the case
then Jane certainly doesn't knows about his subconscious personality.

So these are the suspects I can think of. Lets hope for a great last season because I don't want this series to have a flat ending. :)

I think that Red John is Gale Bertram but now i am going to tell something different about the finale (so dont read it unless you watched 5x22)

I think i know how i RJ knew the exact 7 names, remember when Kirkland's man broke into Jane's room; jane knew someone would broke in, thats why he wanted to make -whoever broke in- believe that he has those 7 suspects. Now he knows the one who broke into his room is either RJ or an accomplice. Thats a good lead for Jane, noone else know that Jane knows someone broke in.

Okay, so I have not watched the finale yet...because I get up at 2 in the morning to work in morning radio so, a show that doesn't start until 10 is not condusive to my sleep pattern. (Can't we like get it petitioned to get it changed or something?! LOL)

However, the moment I woke up this AM and got to work I checked the CBS website to see who the 7 suspects were. I have creeped on this website for some time now without writing a post. I feel now is the time to give my feelings on each of the suspects.

First off, we can immediately eliminate Bob Kirkland in my opinion. He's come into the game pretty late and Loreli's comment about them becoming lifelong friends the moment they shook hands just doesn't make much sense seeing as they didn't meet that long ago. Obviously, he has something to do with Red John (whether he be for or against) but he is NOT the Red John.

I think Reede Smith, Sheriff McAllister and Ray Haffner can also be eliminated. Just because they either don't fit the build or the personality. Not to mention the fact that they've not really been a part of the show. Whomever Red John is, they're going to be somebody that we've seen at least a few times.

A lot of you like Brett Partridge for RJ. I agree, he is irksome ;) but Red John worked on the Visualize farm back in the day and I don't think Brett Partridge is old enough.

Here's who that leaves: Bret Stiles and Gale Bertram.

 I believe that Bret Stiles is Red John.

Why? You may ask...

Well, if Bret Stiles isn't Red John he's at least very connected to him. At this point we know that Red John has an insanely large network of people that he has at his disposal. Bret has been a part of the show for a long time as a reoccurring member of the cast.

Bret is old enough to have worked on the Visualize farm. Bret and Patrick also shook hands a long enough time ago that Loreli would have been able to say her comment and have it make sense.


We all wondered who the mole is in the CBI for RJ...I believe that is Gale Bertram.

Gale Bertram is the GLORIOUS RAVEN riding FORCEFUL WINDS of destruction and mystery

GALE definition - a strong wind
BERTRAM definition - bright or glorious raven

Both of these definitions fit Red John perfectly.  A strong wind carries conotations of forcefulness and mystery.  Winds seem to come from nowhere, just like Red John.  But also are majestic and awe inspiring similar to how many of Red John's followers perceive him upon first meeting him.  

Ravens are commonly symbolized as dark, sinister, and veangeful creatures in culture.  And the descriptive words "bright/glorious" just take it to a much higher level.  This is who Red John is: a Great Dark Creature who swoops in from nohwere with forcefulness to perform his kills.  Also the word gale (wind) fits perfectly with Bertram (raven).

 I doubt Bruno Heller would have just randomly picked a name without thinking upon their definitions. 

Gale Bertram is the one and only Red John of the list of seven

Stop thinking so logically about every single detail regarding Red John's identity and simply guess who he is based upon which actor would be the most likeable and suitable to "fill his shoes".  What person of the seven would be the most entertaining to re-watch the whole Mentalist series over again with the knowledge that they are in fact Red John--only Bertram.  He has the most appearances and air time on the show of all on the list.  His leadership position in the CBI is a major "slap in the face" and showcases his intelligence and "guts" to be able to show himself face to face with this nemesis so often.  And think of the glee and domineering pleasure he would derive from having Patrick Jane work for him.