The one thing I have never been able to wrap my head around is that Red John is Serial Killer. Here is this elaborate network of disciples that resembles a mafia family, yet the all powerful leader (Red John) risks it all because he gets his rocks off killing people, mostly women? Also why would the head of an elaborate crime network get so upset because a glory hunting con man like Jane goes on TV and says he is going to catch him? Finally after all this time how come not a single solitary disciple of Red John has ever exposed him? Eventually even the most ruthless Mafia Crime Bosses get turned in by someone close to them.

Here is my theory....... Red John is NOT a serial killer. He is the head of a secret society, and just like other Secret Societies the members work together to support each other. The murders appear to be the work of a psychotic Serial Killer when in reality they are the Societies way of proving if its members are loyal while also giving the society leverage over its members. In season 5 Red John asks PJ to kill Lisbon to prove his loyalty. I don't think the members themselves even know who Red John is. The pretense that Red Johns is a Serial Killer distracts law enforcement from investigating the Society.

I read an interview with Heller, where he was quoted as saying "what will disappoint fans the most is when they realize that Red John is just a man" That leads me to believe that Red John is the very mortal man, Bret Stiles and his motivation is to manipulate Jane into being his successor.

That theory answers my questions.... The killings are NOT the work of a serial Killer, they are all done by Tiger Tiger members proving their loyalty, while deflecting exposure away from the secret society. Jane was chosen by Red John to be his successor, and the reason his disciples never turn him in is because they don't even know who he is.