Schererville Police File Charges On Alleged Fraud After Audi Found Burned in Newton County
What began as a late night report of a stolen car in the parking lot of Twin Peaks has led to a deeper investigation involving conflicting stories, a burned vehicle, and a possible insurance fraud scheme, according to charging documents.
On December 14, 2024, around 11:49 p.m., Schererville Police responded to Twin Peaks restaurant on U.S. 41, where Kristine Gelis of Highland, reported that a 2014 Audi Q5 had been stolen. Gelis, who was accompanied by the Audi’s registered owner, George Doukas of Highland, claimed they had arrived around 10 p.m. and found the vehicle missing afterward. She provided a key fob, indicating the car had not been towed.
However, discrepancies in Gelis’ timeline and route raised red flags. A Schererville Officer noted inconsistent statements from both Gelis and Doukas, including changes in where they had traveled, when, and which vehicle they were in. License plate reader (LPR) data showed the Audi traveling in locations not mentioned by Gelis, and a subsequent review of surveillance footage from a Cedar Lake bar directly contradicted her version of events.
The case took a turn when the Audi was found the next day burned in a rural area of Newton County. The discovery came after Officer Eger learned both Gelis and Doukas had prior connections to fraud investigations. During a follow up interview, Gelis initially maintained her story, but later admitted that Doukas had been driving the Audi that night, while she followed in a Hyundai Palisade. She said they drove through back roads, and at one point, Doukas left in the Audi and later returned on foot, telling her, “it went bye bye.”
Schererville Detectives later confirmed that Gelis had filed an insurance claim with Allstate for the destroyed vehicle. The claim is now under review by the insurer’s investigation division.
According to police, the vehicle’s value exceeds $2,500, and the matter is now being treated as a potential case of insurance fraud.
George Doukas and Kristine Gelis both of Highland have since been charged with:
Level 6 Felony – Fraud with a loss between $750 – $50,000
B Misdemeanor – False Informing
