Investigators looking into a Louisa County priest accused of embezzling money from two rural churches believe the scheme goes back longer than the six years written on the indictment.

Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, was indicted on one count of felony embezzlement Jan. 8 by a Louisa Circuit Court grand jury. Rodis had been pastor at St. Jude Catholic Church in Mineral and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buckner between 1993 and May 2006.

The indictment accuses him of stealing from the two rural churches between September 2001 and October 2006. But state police Sgt. Kevin Barrick said investigators are “sure” that the thefts had been going on for longer.

Barrick said federal law allows banks to destroy records after six years.

Therefore, detectives have been able to search Rodis’ bank records only back to 2001. Investigators have been asking parishioners to contact them if they made donations to the two churches before 2001, Barrick said. They’ve been getting a steady stream of responses.

It’s unclear the exact amount that Rodis is accused of stealing. Virginia’s threshold for felony embezzlement is $200, so Rodis is formally charged of stealing only that amount.

William Etherington, an attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, has estimated that Rodis stole $600,000.

Barrick said he expects that the total surpasses that estimate, and that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if it’s more than $1 million. He said the total is “climbing every day” as more parishioners contact investigators.

Rodis is currently free on a $10,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow morning in Louisa Circuit Court. A trial date could be set at that time.

Rodis was arrested Jan. 9 at his home at 5904 Watson Lane in Spotsylvania County. Joyce F. Sillador purchased the house in June 1994 for $114,929, according to the deed of trust filed in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

Online public records show Rodis lived at the home as far back as July 1994 with the 44-year-old Sillador, who sometimes used Rodis’ last name. Neighbors said three girls estimated to range in age from elementary-school age to college age also lived there.

Etherington said it’s his understanding that Rodis was not married, although neighbors assumed that they were. It’s unclear if the girls are his daughters. As a Catholic priest, Rodis was not allowed to marry. The Catholic diocese was unaware of Rodis’ living arrangements prior to the indictment.