I am accusing Partridge, but not for being Red John. If you can fathom that, please read on. 

Red John is an individual, not a team or group. However, we know that he has disciples, helpers, sympathizers, and he uses assets to do some of his work and killings. We also know that some people are very willing and happy to die for Red John. No one revealed to know who Red John is has survived with the exception of Rosalind Harker. 

This can explain a lot about some of the people on the list, but most especially the fate of the late Brett Partridge. The Tyger Tyger utterance most likely indicates that he knew Red John, and perhaps did some of the killings for him. He could be a very close asset who got to play the role of Red John and even at one point went under the alias of Roy Tagliaferro. Let's call that a pseudo-RJ, and there have been other Pesudo-RJs, such as Timothy Carter. 

And this could explain why Partridge had to die first. He was a disposable asset, like Timothy Carter. 

If this fits together, and we might find out whether it does in the upcoming episode, then I believe I have a pretty good idea of who Red John might be. But I'll withhold the rest of my theory, until this much at least is confirmed.