The Walking Dead has seen a fair share of death across its ten seasons. Not only do the survivors have to deal with hordes of the undead, but they also encounter the very worst of humankind. One Season 3 cast member was almost among that number.

On the Talk Dead To Me podcast, Axel actor Lew Temple said his character was originally written to be a notorious serial killer. Even more shocking is the fact he was going to brutally murder Beth Greene. “There were some episodes that were written where I do take Beth out into the woods and slaughter her,” Temple revealed. “And so we didn’t get to any of those. That was why I kept buttoned up, he was gonna come undone and be totally Henry Rollins tattooed.”

Axel was one of five inmates at the Georgia prison where Rick Grimes and his group took refuge. He was imprisoned for robbing a store with a water pistol. Over the course of the season, he displayed a laid-back demeanor and began building a relationship with Carol. He was ultimately killed during the Governor’s assault on the prison.

AMC’s The Walking Dead stars Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Cooper Andrews, and Samantha Morton. The Season 10 finale is yet to receive an air date.