Red John is not on the list of 7. PJ met and shook hands with RJ before he murdered his family and has only ever seen him once after the murders. When PJ met RJ again he was absolutely terrified, he could sense that he was RJ. As he is the Mentalist, PJ will be able to sense the next time he is in the presence of the ultimate evil-RJ. PJ is or has never been scared of any of the 7 suspects and most of them he treats as lowly inferiors with the exception of Bret Stiles. PJ is like an antenna and picks up on the slightest hint of evil. PThe list of 7 is a rogue that will finally lead PJ to RJ. Besides Rosalind Harkers description of RJ, the tattoo is one of the few other legitimate clues to RJ. Grace Van Pelt is the link that will lead PJ to RJ.