The health care company whose now fired employee is accused of raping a patient issued comments on the case and the former worker Monday.

The ex-employee, 37-year-old Marcus Fox, was arrested Friday and remains in the Montgomery County Jail on three counts of rape.

Deputies said he worked as an in-home health care aide in the Washington Twp. home of the 81-year-old victim, who has Alzheimer's and dementia.

Deputies said they do not know exactly how long the situation had been going on. Fox, when pressed by investigators, told them he estimated it started "two or three weeks ago, maybe a month."

Monday, Pat Luers, owner and president of BrightStar, the in-home health care provider with locations in Centerville and South Dayton, said his company was "saddened and disturbed" to learn of the allegations.

"Our heart goes out to the family, and we are working closely with them and doing everything possible to help them through the situation," Luers said.

"Stringent screening standards were followed when this individual was hired including criminal background checks; none of which indicated any cause for concern. We took immediate action when we were made aware of the situation including removing the accused individual from all patient care and notifying proper authorities. He has since been terminated," Luers said.

Luers said BrightStar is continuing to cooperate with the local authorities in the case.

Fox has been fired, Luers told News Center 7's Yuna Lee.

"The family has chosen to continue working with our agency," he noted. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time."

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Health care provider comments on rape case