This fits the strict definition of "conspiracy theory" -- a theory that a group of people are working together in secret (or "conspiring") to achieve a specific

This fits the strict definition of "conspiracy theory" -- a theory that a group of people are working together in secret (or "conspiring") to achieve a specific goal. You're attempting to apply a connotation -- that the theory is unfounded -- that is usually associated with the term, but not definitive. This is particularly troubling in the face of the evidence presented.