You have one HUGE problem with your new story.

Non-killers do not murder people easily.

As an example, all those people on the list of those who visited Epstein's island, why aren't they all dead? Of course there isn't any evidence, but if it was a movie, we would all believe they were bad people, and have no problem with them getting the electric chair in the end.

People who haven't killed often hesitate (often until too late) before attempting to kill the person that will kill them. Even soldiers trained and sent to Vietnam and Korea.

So, in your story, you either had a burdgeoning serial killer, who has just been waiting for a good reason. Or the rumors were more than just rumors.

Still the fact remains that non-killers rarely kill.

And if you look at recidivism of people convicted of murder, you find the same thing. A person who killed in a moment of passion, will almost never commit a crime again. A serial killer will almost always kill again.