Ep 5. Redwood

In season 1 episode 5 of The Mentalist titled Redwood, Patrick Jane and the California Bureau of Investigation are called in to investigate the murder of a young woman who was set on fire. Her body was found in the Redwood National Park in northern California, and it quickly becomes clear that the killer is someone who knows the area well.

As the team delves deeper into the investigation, they uncover a number of potential suspects, including a local timber company owner, a park ranger, and a group of environmental protestors. Everyone seems to have a motive, and it's up to Patrick and the team to figure out who is behind the gruesome murder.

In the course of their investigation, Patrick and his partner Teresa Lisbon discover that the victim, Maria, had been working as a waitress at a local diner. They interview the owner of the diner, who tells them that Maria had recently befriended a man who came in to eat every day. The man, who had recently lost his wife, was a regular at the diner, but had stopped coming in the week before Maria's murder. The owner gives Patrick and Teresa a copy of the man's driver's license, and they learn that his name is Ronald.

Meanwhile, Agent Cho is investigating a group of environmental protestors who had been camping in the Redwood park. One of the protestors, a young man named Owen, becomes a prime suspect when it is revealed that he had been involved in a scuffle with Maria before her death.

As the team works to piece together the clues, they discover that the killer may have been using an abandoned lumber mill as a hideout. They go to investigate the mill, and find evidence that the killer had been staying there. They also find a canister of gasoline, which they suspect was used to set Maria on fire.

Back at the CBI headquarters, the team continues to investigate Ronald, the man who had befriended Maria at the diner. They discover that he had been involved in a car accident a few days before the murder, and that his car had been impounded by the police. When they go to investigate the car, they find a backpack full of evidence, including a blood-stained shirt and a can of gasoline.

With the evidence mounting against him, Ronald is brought in for questioning. He initially denies any involvement in Maria's murder, but eventually confesses to the crime. He reveals that he had been obsessed with Maria, and that he had killed her after she had rejected his advances.

In the end, the killer is brought to justice, and Patrick and the team are left to ponder the tragic consequences of obsession and rejection. The episode is a compelling thriller with plenty of twists and turns, making it a must-watch for fans of the show.