Tightrope: Was Molinari SUPPOSED to be the Killer?!

Okay, so I've watched "Tightrope" like... a million times (don't judge!). And every time I watch it, I get more and more convinced that the original plan was for Molinari (the DA guy) to actually BE the killer. Think about it! He's always conveniently around, he's got that sleazy vibe going on big time, and the movie spends a lot of time subtly hinting at something being off about him. Like, why does he keep showing up at the crime scenes, asking Wes all these leading questions? And that look he gives Beryl when she's talking about the killer's psychology... it's just too intense, you know? Plus, I always thought the way he was just kinda... dismissed as a suspect felt rushed. I think maybe, maybe they changed their minds during production. Maybe Eastwood didn't want to play cat-and-mouse with someone like that for too long, or maybe the studio got cold feet about the DA turning out to be the bad guy. It just feels like there are so many breadcrumbs that lead to Molinari, and then the movie awkwardly swerves and points at Lutin instead – who, let's be honest, is pretty forgettable as a villain after all that build up. And seriously, what about the scene where he's at the bar and literally says "I hate people!" when Wes is talking to him about why the killer hates the victims? It doesn't necessarily mean that he's the killer, but the line almost feels too on-the-nose if he's not. I'm probably reading too much into it, but the fact that it's still been bugging me after all these viewings definitely says something. Am I totally off base here? Anyone else get that kind of vibe? Or am I just destined to be haunted by the spectre of a Molinari-as-killer version of "Tightrope" forever lol? It's just that Lutin is so boring. And the way the final confrontation went was just a little too blah. Thoughts?