Embattled Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is in charge of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation, says the prime suspect in the case is likely preparing to strike again.

Nanos, who spoke to NBC News about the case, said he knows why the 84-year-old Guthrie was “targeted” and warned that the suspect “absolutely” could strike again.

“We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted, but we, we can’t, we’re not 100% sure of that,” Nanos told NBC News Thursday night.

“So it’d be silly to tell people, ‘Yeah, don’t worry about it. You’re, you’re not his target.’ Don’t think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you’re safe. No, keep your wits about you.”

Take a listen to Nanos’ entire interview —

Nanos’ surprising comments come as the longtime sheriff has faced mounting criticism over the month-long search for Guthrie, giving the update while refusing to give up details, even as he suggested others are not “safe.”

Critics and law enforcement experts have accused Nanos of making confusing and contradictory public statements early on in the investigation.

Nanos’ department also came under fire recently after it was discovered that his team left the scene outside Guthrie’s Tucson home so unsecured that reporters and even a pizza deliveryman were able to knock on the front door during the window of critical forensic investigation.

The lack of suspects in the five weeks since Guthrie was kidnapped has also led to intense backlash as the search for Guthrie now enters its sixth week with zero viable leads.

Several “persons of interest” have been questioned, but all were cleared, including a delivery driver who had never even heard of the 84-year-old, and investigators have not identified any real suspects.

Nanos declined to give any further details on the case or theories surrounding Guthrie’s Feb. 1 disappearance.

This is an ongoing story. Check back for further updates.