The Mentalist Timeline ( Real )

tv_show_premiere
September 23, 2008

Premiere of The Mentalist

The Mentalist TV show premiered on CBS, introducing viewers to Patrick Jane, a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation.

tv_show_finale
February 18, 2015

The Mentalist Season 7 Finale

The final episode of The Mentalist aired, concluding the series after seven seasons and wrapping up the story of Patrick Jane and the CBI.

The Mentalist Timeline ( Fictional )

career_start
Early 2008

Patrick Jane Joins CBI

Patrick Jane starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the tragic murder of his family by Red John.

case
Mid 2008

First Major Case at CBI

Patrick Jane helps solve a high-profile murder case involving a serial killer, establishing his reputation within the agency.

key_event
Late 2008

Jane Encounters Red John

Patrick Jane first directly encounters clues linked to Red John, the serial killer who murdered his wife and daughter.

career_change
Early 2011

Jane Leaves CBI

After intense investigations and confrontations, Jane temporarily leaves the CBI to continue his own search for Red John.

case
Mid 2011

Jane Returns to Help on Red John Case

Jane returns to the CBI to assist on a renewed investigation into Red John's identity and cases.

key_event
Early 2013

Red John Revealed and Killed

Patrick Jane discovers the true identity of Red John and kills him, bringing closure to his family's murder case.

career_change
Mid 2014

CBI Disbands and Jane Joins FBI

With CBI disbanded, Jane becomes a consultant for the FBI, continuing his work on criminal cases.

case
2014-2015

Jane Solves Major FBI Cases

Patrick Jane contributes to solving multiple significant FBI cases using his mentalist skills.