Considering all the murders and dead from The Mentalist, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, CSI... there must be around 4 alive americans in the world.

It seems that everybody will be disappointed, whoever Red John is.
The fact is during the 5 past season, RJ has always been shown as the most clever, the most skillful, an uncatchable person almost divine always ahead everyone even Patrick Jane.
But, in the season 6, he appears to be "just" a serial-killer, he is beginning  to panic and make some (a lot) mistakes, he does not predict everything anymore.
With a face on his name, he appears to be vulnerable.

As everyone I always hope for a big twist, but in the same time, hurry to discover the truth....

"I'm surprised the two of you didn't become lifelong friends the moment you shook hands."  That sentence alone is enough of a reason for me to believe that Brett Partridge is NOT Red John.  If Bruno Heller  has other plans to make this unlikable, pithy, geeky wanker of a  character into a sudden god-like swarthy, charismatic  lothario that women swallow cyanide over... I will ban the show.  Patrick Jane is a smart man.  He knows who his equals are.  If he EVER thought that Brett Partridge was of equal caliber believe me... this would not have lasted six years... I would rather see Lisbon turn on him than have Partridge as Red John.  And I love Lisbon...

The fact that Partridge appears on IMDB's list of credited cast, if accurate, can also mean that he participates in flashback scenes. My point is that he doesnt have to be RJ if he is in the episode

Bruno Heller directed episode 1 and 8.
So everything between these two episode is bullshit.

"One of you here is Red John! Who is it? Tell me, I have to know! I've waited 10 years for this moment. Tell me, or I'll shoot you!"

: )

when Patrick gathered the last 5 suspects , and said that Red John have the 3 dotted tattoo , it seems to me that its like his old tricks, RJ doesnt have the Tattoo, its a trick  to see which one of the suspects appears relieved or which one didnt look around him.
he did such trick many times before , may be all the guys who have the Tattoo arent Red John which leaves Haffner and Stiles