ECHO SUITES 5831 ALTA LAKE DRIVE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA WORST GHETTO, NO COMPASSIONATE ABOUT MY DEAD SON URN AND ASHES BY MANAGER. HE CARED MORE ABOUT MAKING ECHO IMAGE LOOK GOOD. THEN RELATING TO HIS CUSTOMER. HE SHUT ME DOWN SHORT WHEN I COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS BLACK FEMALE WORKER PAM

 

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Title: Deeply Hurtful and Unprofessional Experience During a Time of Grief

My name is Crystal Lashelle Lax. My daughter, Natisha Vernelle Lax, and I recently stayed at Echo Suites by Wyndham located at 5831 Alta Lake Drive in Indianapolis, Indiana. I feel compelled to share our experience so that others, especially grieving families, are aware of how we were treated.

I had just traveled from Arizona after the tragic loss of my son, Antoine Jermaine Lax, who was killed on September 4, 2025. I came to Indianapolis while handling the arrangements for his remains, which were delivered to this hotel. This was a time of deep grief, emotional vulnerability, and medical strain for me, as I suffer from heart A-Fib and other health conditions.

However, instead of compassion or professionalism, we encountered harassment, disrespect, and profiling from a staff member named Pam. Throughout our stay, we felt we were being spoken to in a condescending and judgmental manner. Personal questions were asked that were inappropriate and unrelated to hotel business, including questions directed to my daughter about her private matters. At no point did we receive the standard courtesy that should be given to any paying guest, especially one staying long-term and paying $1,700 for the month.

We were also wrongly associated with the behavior of another individual, Robert Bowens, whom we had been trying to help due to his disability and lack of family support. When an incident occurred involving him, we were treated as though we were responsible, despite having no control over his actions. The situation escalated to the point where police arrived at our door without warning, and we were subsequently told we had to leave immediately, even though we had not violated any hotel policy.

This was done on Veterans Day, when resources and transportation options were limited, leaving us with nowhere to go. No attempt was made to speak to us respectfully, mediate the situation, or consider my medical condition or our grieving circumstances. After years of staying in Wyndham properties across the country, I have never experienced treatment like this.

This experience made us feel targeted, dismissed, and devalued as human beings, not seen as paying guests who deserved fair treatment. At a time when we needed stability, dignity, and compassion, we were instead met with assumption, stereotyping, and refusal to consider the facts.

I cannot recommend this location to anyone—especially families dealing with hardship, disability, or grief—until the staff receives proper training in professionalism, conflict resolution, and respectful treatment of all guests.

This was deeply hurtful, and it has added pain to an already unimaginable time in our lives.

— Crystal Lashelle Lax