Of course the "Now you want mercy" part is directed to Bertram, who I think is asking PJ to say he is not RJ. I think Bertram is afraid that RJ will kill him after PJ's media conference. Patrick is actually going to use this to benefit him and get Bertram to tell him what he knows...
Partridge's tattoo was cut off after he was killed, presumably by someone in Tiger Tiger. A good reason for this would be if he had betrayed the "club", perhaps threatening to expose them. It was decided he should not carry the tattoo to his grave after he was killed by a Tiger Tiger member to prevent him from talking.
Just before Red John phones Patrick, right after Partridge has been killed, CBI Ron has a phone in his hand, and disappears round the corner.
However, when we hear the audio of the call from "Red John"'s side, we are shown a video of a person at the scene of the murder, with Lisbon/Partridge. He is holding a knife in one hand, and wiping the blood off with his other hand (in a glove) - therefore leaving no hand to hold a phone in.
Therefore, the phone call itself came from somewhere else. CBI Ron has to be the leading suspect for this phone call, and therefore the Red John voice.
That is part of the theory from the perspective of events in the show. Now for evidence we have from elsewhere! Here's a recent quote from Bruno Heller:
"Sometimes you're forced to hate the conclusions or the wrapping things up in silly, absurd ways or in fact — naming no shows — it turns out they didn't have any idea how they were going to end the show or what the secret was or why there were polar bears. We have the answers and it's very important to us, for those people who have been following us from the start, to revealnot in a series of cryptic moments that leave a lot of questions begged. We're going to tell the story and explain who Red John is and what happened and what is going to happen as clearly as possible because the audience deserves that."
An obvious dig at Lost! This quote strongly implies that the writing staff have known Red John's identity for some time. It would be unsatisfying to viewers, and make Heller look highly hypocritical, if someone who had first appeared at least later than season 3 turned out to be Red John. On this basis we rule out Hafner, Stiles, Bertram, Reede, and the Kirklands.
This leaves us with 3 people who fit the Red John description, feasibly, and who have appeared in the show for some time: Partridge, McAlister, and CBI Ron.
Partridge, if the first part of this theory is correct, cannot be Red John.
McAlister in our opinion would be a fairly rubbish Red John. Why not get him back for more episodes in seasons 2-5 if Heller really wanted a satisfying conclusion?
Finally, on leaving the hospital after abandoning his attempt to kill Patrick, CBI Ron is entering the building as Bertram leaves. Ron says "hi Boss" - Bertram noticeably smirks. Because he is humored by the irony that CBI Ron, as Red John, is actually Bertram's boss in Tiger Tiger.
Imagine a reveal of CBI Ron - there's plenty of flashbacks we could be shown.
Lastly, I don't care that he wasn't on Patrick's list. Clearly Patrick has had another list for quite some time that we will be shown. That whole list concept can be blown apart now that the showrunners are basically trying to make us choose between Bertram/Reede this week.
Also, against the list - either this is going to be the worst reveal ever (Smith or Bertram), or the writers have lied to us at some point - either about the list, or the death of at least one of Kirkland/Partridge/Stiles/Hafner.
Just to finish, obviously the promo hasn't shown us anything outside of the first 20 minutes or so of the show, that's the whole thing about promos. It's like the passage on the back of the book - always from the first half. The scenes in the church are Patrick's meeting with Bertram. The "and now you want mercy, after all you've done" quote is obviously Patrick to Bertram (it's fairly clear it's Bertram walking down the aisle). Patrick probably kills him as the Tiger Tiger leader under Red John, doesn't really matter, it's fairly irrelevant. This isn't the Red John showdown.
I'm thinking more and more of this Ron being Red John...always around (in important episodes) without talking much, and corresponding to the portrait and clues we have (no?). He meets Bertram at the hospital (6'39') where he can go as he is not suspected. He knows the troubles the discovery of the Blake association made and can walk freely during this time, as nobody knows he is part of the association, not even Bertram and Smith.
Bertram and Smith are n°1 suspects by the CBI so Bertram escapes because under the name of the organization, he took part into reprehensible acts. But he is not Red John, nor Smith is.
So I think Ron is part of Blake association which is a great cover as it counts many members. Bertram and Smith don't know he is part of it.
He can also be Bob kirkland's brother.
What do you think ?
Poor Haffner. He looked so cute when he was taking off his shirt. Sigh i'm gonna miss him I didn't want him dead at all. The Mentalist is breaking my heart.
Here is my theory. I still believe CBI Ron is Red John as I explained in my previous theory. I think the last two episodes also showed that my theory might be right. I knew he is Red John who planted the bomb and Haffner will die. What happened in the last two episodes then?
I think Bertram called Ron and told about the Jane's call. Ron easily predicted that Jane would use the tattoo clue and kill the one with the tattoo. Where is the best place to gather all suspects? The place where Red John killed his family. When Red John gave the tattoo clue to Jane, he had already known that Jane would choose that place and planted the bomb. We know that a mentalist is a good observant and easily predicts others' moves. Red John expected that kind a move of Jane. We have seen many episodes how Jane trap the killers.
In the Jane's house, McAllister moved against Jane and Jane shot him to prove that he is very serious to find and kill Red John. Then, McAllister fell on the floor. That is how he left his DNA in the house. I do not think McAllister is dead, he is just wounded. He escaped when the bomb exploded. What was CBI Ron (Red John) doing that time? He was watching them outside of the house.
Lisbon called for assistance. The Blake organisation tipped off Ron that Lisbon and Sac PD. were coming to Jane's house. I think it was Ron's car Lisbon was about to crash when she was on her way to Jane's house.
In the church, McAllister was approaching to Jane and asked for mercy. There are two options: McAllister will bring the message of Red John or he knew the Blake Organisation would kill him. He will ask the help of Jane to get rid of this threat.
Then, we will all see Ron is Red John. Here is my theory I posted twice.
I think CBI Ron is real Robert Kirkland and he is Red John. At the Red Barn, Robert finds his twin brother Michael who tries to get rid of his alcohol issue, but now he becomes a drug addicted. Robert kills the other members of the Visualise. The problem is now how to prevent the Visualise from killing Michael. Michael is the weaker sibling and cannot survive against the Visualise. The twins switches their identities. Then real Robert disappears and Michael (now Robert) hears no news from his brother. What Michael does not know that his brother had a plastic surgery and changed his face and identity. That is why he did not kill anybody for a decade.Because creating a best identity theft takes years (in one episode an Irish guy who creates fake identities told so). Maybe during these years he kills under different alias like Roy. After a decade, he becomes CBI (R)ed j(O)h(N). This also explains why he is not on the list. because his fake identity does not fit the Red John case so Jane eliminates him.
This theory explains many things.
He is there from the beginning.
He is like Waldo.
He is really on the list (Real Robert Kirkland)
He fits the expression of Simon Baker. ( He told the interview it is like killing a family member). Unlike the seven suspects, Ron has been there in many episodes from the beginning.
He is close to Jane and the investigation.
Other things
He is mar. He is (M)ichael (A)ka (R)obert (I think Ron left the message)
Examine carefully Robert Kirkland (actually Michael). He has self-control issue and shaking hands. He is an old addict. He was desperately looking for Robert. That is why he ask people "do you recognise me?". He wanted to know if they had met Robert. He did not know for sure that Robert is Red John or his tool killed by Red John. He actually brought those people to his own cabin.
Ron had a phone at his hand when Jane came to the CBI at the end of episode one of season six. Then he called his accomplice who killed Partridge and while his accomplice was drawing his mark on Lisbon's face, he spoke to Jane through his accomplice' and Lisbon's phones. He kept it short because he did not want Jane to understand he was talking to him through two phones. In this way, he also eliminates himself as a Red John suspect in the eye of Patrick and many viewers. However, we know Red John tricked Jane before in this way (Think about Wainwright in the limo). Besides, when Jane staged the fake death of Rigsby, who were there with Wainwright? Ron and Karl. He could easily kidnap Wainwright and trap Jane. He is a good observant like Jane. He can easily notice that man is not Rigsby.
When Tyger Tyger killed his brother (They did not know the real identity of Red John and Kirkland is his brother), he gave tattoo clue to Jane to led him to kill the group members who are also Red John suspects (Bertram, McAllister and Smith) or he led Jane to bring all suspects together and wanted to get rid of them all together if he is the one who planted the bomb. In this way, he would kill both his brother's killers and the Visualise leader that is after him because of the Red Barn incident.
Lastly, I think Ray Haffner is the accomplice of Red John. he has a problematic childhood. He told so. He has also interest in Lisbon. He is a good tool for Red John. Red John always offers his accomplices the things they do not have. (As we know he offers the accomplice the girl he loves, in another case, he gives the baby) I think Haffner is obsessed with Lisbon and helping Red John to get Lisbon. It was Haffner who killed the fake Red John killers and saved Jane. Ron (real Red John) spoke Jane through the phone. He is also the one who drew the mark on Lisbon's face. If Red John is the one who planted the bomb at Jane's house, he also wanted to kill Haffner because he knows him. Red John has no friends, only tools. I really wonder what would happen to Haffner if Red John put the bomb.
After the loss of his brother and cleaning in the California Law Enforcement, he will desperately seek the friendship of Jane. then, bang! Bang!
Okay seriously ,if red john is not CBI RON ,Partrigdge or some other off-list Character ,then the Show is going to suck !!
If they dont introduce some Patrick Jane magic in the next episode ,then ,seriously ,I will regret every second I spent watching this lame Show !! The list is too easy ,the list does not make sense ,all of the preivous 7 episodes dont make sense ,ever body started whistling ,everybody started acting like red john ,this is not the mentalist ,this some lame ugly stupid show that no one wants to watch ,I'm giving this show one tiny chance ,which is the next episode ,then that is it !!!
Hit like if you agree ,and if you hit dislike then you must be that lame Bruno heller guy
CBI Ron IS Michael Kirkland - just with a beard and a little extra weight. He has been quietly manipulating PJ from the sidelines this whole time. He IS Red John.
Gale Bertram simply would not have the time or the privacy, as head of an agency such as this, to have the geographical range to do all the things that Red John has done.
Reede Smith is not bright enough. Besides, he hired on with the FBI too late - their background check would have caught SOMETHING suspicious.
Bret Stiles actually DID become friends with PJ after they shook hands, so Lorelie's statement would make no sense if it were Bret Stiles.
Sherriff Tom McAllister has the same issues that Gale Bertram would - not enough time, privacy, and geographic range as the sherriff of an entire country to do all that Red John has done.
Ray Haffner isn't smart enough and doesn't have the personal charisma necessary to get ANYONE to do something he wanted them to do.
Bob Kirkland is dead.
Brett Partridge is dead.
As we have all seen throughout this series, Red John moves his pieces around the chessboard from the sidelines, rarely, if ever, actually getting his own hands dirty with something as menial as actually covering up his identity. This is his way of living the life so desired by someone relegated to performing menial tasks on a day to day basis. This is the essence of what drives Red John - and THAT is CBI Ron personified.
