In book 7 you see Tom Riddle from the orphanage, stealing from other children and using his magical abilities to make them physically hurt and fear him. Dumbledore tries to set him straight. Tom Riddle acts like all the good things in school but blames Hagrid and Aragon for the actions Tom did with the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets to get Hagrid expelled. He started creating horcruxes (meaning he also killed others) before he left Hogwarts, it seemed. Even with all of his Death Eater minions, he never shows them much except contempt.

Perhaps you can find something to redeem him. I never did.