Patrick Jane is a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation. He uses his keen powers of observation, induction, and knowledge of social engineering to aid in investigations. Thanks to his skills he is known as the best detective in California, although he is not really a detective. His reason for joining the CBI was to help them find Red John, a deadly serial killer.

Jane previously worked as a psychic. In an interview on TV Jane taunted Red John, saying: "He's an ugly, tormented little man, a lonely soul, sad, very sad." which prompted Red John to murder Jane's wife, Angela Ruskin Jane, and daughter, Charlotte Anne Jane. Ever since then, Jane's primary motive has been to avenge his family by killing Red John. Eight years after the deaths of his wife and daughter, Patrick finally meets Red John face-to-face, or so he thinks During this confrontation, he shoots Red John's accomplice to death, leading to his arrest, later they find out that he is not Red John.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Carnival Worker 1.2 Life As a Psychic 1.3 Working With the CBI 1.3.1 Confrontation with Red John 2 Trivia

BiographyEdit

Carnival WorkerEdit

In the mid-1980s, when Patrick Jane was 16, he worked in a carnival as a psychic, with his father Alex Jane, who was a showman. Patrick did well in the carnival, because of his amazing abilities of observation and induction. However, he had a rough life with his father, the only adult in his life. When Patrick refused to scam a dying girl and her grandmother, his father became emotionally abusive and, in the end, forced him to do it. Jane later said that he never went to a high school, presumably due to the nomadic lifestyle that goes with working for a carnival.

Also while working at the carnival, Patrick met his wife-to-be Angela, whose family worked at the same carnival. They ran away together to escape the carny lifestyle, which her family viewed as a betrayal and which was likely also the cause of Jane's estrangement with his father.

Life As a PsychicEdit

Jane used to be a semi-famous celebrity, posing as a psychic/medium. Bits of his past have been revealed through flashbacks and dialogue within the program. In several flashbacks, Jane is shown taking part in a television show where he supposedly contacted the dead relatives of various audience members. We also see Jane mocking the serial killer dubbed "Red John," establishing him (Jane) as a character who is confident in his abilities, but not mindful of the

Added by WipeoutNewbiefan:)4

consequences. This stands in contrast with his later outlook: While Jane still presents a decidedly cocky demeanor, he is also clearly aware that his actions can (and do) have consequences. Things were fine for Jane until he criticized and openly mocked Red John on a TV program. When Jane returned home from doing that show, he was horrified to discover that his wife, Angela Ruskin Jane, and daughter, Charlotte Anne Jane (names revealed in the third-season episode Cackle-bladder Blood), had been murdered by Red John. The killer was angry for being singled out and raked over the coals on television, so he murdered Angela and Charlotte in revenge. This burdened Jane with enormous amounts of guilt, as he was aware that his family had died as a direct result of his actions.

As a result of his self-imposed complicity in the killings, Jane apparently had a mental breakdown and had to be taken into a ward. When he recovered, he was released and fought to keep his breakdown a secret, as he was deeply ashamed of it. Jane did manage to keep the breakdown off of his records.

Working With the CBIEdit

Trying to turn over a new leaf, Jane decided to use his brilliant razor-sharp skills as a mentalist for good. Jane approached the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and offered to help them solve serious crimes. They agreed, and he quickly befriended his co-workers, gaining a reputation for his cocky, charming, annoying, and undeniably clever personality, which is later revealed to be only half the person he truly is. Jane has declared, on more than one occasion, that catching and killing "Red John" is the single most important thing to him, even his personal freedom. If avenging his family meanbecause they would object or refuse to let him do them), leading to his reputation as a bit of a loose cannon. Reckless as they seem to be, Jane's actions usually reveal crucial details regarding the case. Although Jane keeps up a cocky, cheeky and flirty outlook, it is obvious that he misses his wife and daughter terribly. However, he will not discuss them, and keeps a great deal of emotion bottled up, leading to his inability to sleep properly. Jane is often generous beyond the call of duty, especially for the victims of the crimes, doing things like paying for the dialysis of the elderly mother of a casino worker, or anonymously donating over $100,000 worth of jewelery to charity, all without informing the other members of the team.

Although Jane has a propensity to play mind games and push the buttons of various characters on the show (whether a suspect or just someone he doesn't like), he is frequently shown to be wary of and avoid all types of physical confrontation. A notable exception to this occurred at the end of the first season when Jane picked up a shotgun and killed someone who was threatening other members of the team with a pistol, before throwing the weapon away. After he manipulates the newest Supervising Agent Luther Vainwright in order to capture a suspect, Agent Vainwright tells him he has inferred from their interactions that Jane is a clinical psychopath and that now that he knows what he's dealing with, he "will adjust accordingly".

Regarding Jane's "psychic" abilities: After the death of his family, Jane openly admits that he was a fraud, but his seemingly miraculous knowledge of people causes many to doubt this. Jane is extremely observant and logical, with insights into human nature that baffle others, often working out "who dunnit" fairly early in the program, but not revealing who it actually is until the end. When a supervisor dismisses one of Jane's hunches as seemingly ridiculous, team leader Teresa Lisbon says "It's a Jane hunch, sir. It's the reason we keep him around," showing that the members of the team, and even his superiors, are aware of the accuracy of Jane's insights, even though he is only a consultant.

The suggestion of romantic involvement between Jane and his supervisor Teresa Lisbon -- dubbed "Jisbon" by some -- is a small but popular element of the show. Even though it is highly doubtful that Jane will commit to another relationship until he makes peace with his unwitting part in his wife's terrible death, his flirtatious ways and fond feelings toward Lisbon are undeniable. The extent of Jane's affection toward Lisbon was revealed at the end of the first season, when only minutes after emphatically stating that he would not mind getting killed if it meant catching Red John, Jane shot and killed the only person who could lead him to Red John in order to save Lisbon's life.

Confrontation with Red JohnEdit

{C}{C

Added by Darth Stefan

{C}{C

After Red John's accomplice Craig O'Laughlin is killed while trying to kill Hightower in her mountain cabin hideout, Jane (who is in a food court in a Sacramento mall) has Lisbon use the redial on O'Laughlin's phone and tell whomever answers that O'Laughlin is dead. An average looking gentleman (played by Bradley Whitford) sitting in the food court near Jane answers his phone. Jane, seeing this, has Lisbon tell him what the person she called said to her.

Added by Darth Stefan

{C}{C

It's the same thing that the man in the food court said, so Jane confronts him. The man first denies it, but moments later he drops hints that he is Red John. Jane, however, is still skeptical, and confronts the man again as he tries to leave, only for him to reveal to Jane details of the murders of his wife and daughter, specifically, what they smelled like. This sends Jane over the edge, and he calls after the man, then guns him down with a weapon hidden in his coat pocket. Jane then sits down and calmly sips tea while waiting to be arrested, apparently satisfied that this man was indeed Red John.

Trivia Edit

• Bruno Heller, creator of The Mentalist, has admitted that there is chemistry between Jane and Lisbon, and that it is a small but possible way to take the show.
• Patrick Jane uses a Motorola Stature i9 cell phone and drives a Citroën DS 21.