On January 26, 2026, a devastating incident unfolded in Bonham, Texas, where three young brothers lost their lives after falling through the ice on a frozen pond. This tragic event occurred despite the frantic rescue attempts by their mother and a neighbor.
The deceased brothers were identified as Howard Doss, age 6, Kaleb Doss, age 8, and EJ Doss, age 9. The event took place in a private pond situated off Rec Road 3 in Fannin County, approximately 60 miles northeast of Dallas, Texas.
The mother of the boys, Cheyenne Hangaman, reported that the youngest sibling fell into the icy water first. His older brothers then attempted to rescue him, leading to all three children falling into the frigid pond.
Upon being alerted by her daughter about the critical situation, Hangaman, a mother of six, immediately attempted to rescue her sons. However, the ice kept breaking, hampering her efforts to save the boys.
“There was three of them and only one of me,” Hangaman stated. “That’s why I couldn’t save them.”
Hangaman became immobilized in the icy water as her body went into shock due to the freezing temperatures. A neighbor, hearing the cry for help, managed to pull her out of the water.
John Ramsey, a local football coach for the Bonham Independent School District, was assisting a neighbor nearby when he heard the call for assistance. He declined an interview but released a statement.
“I was nearby helping a neighbor when I heard someone calling for help and went to assist,” Ramsey said. “Any person in that situation would have done the same thing. I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis, doing what I hope anyone would do for someone in need.”
Two of the brothers were rescued from the water by responders and the neighbor but were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The youngest brother did not resurface and was found after an extensive search of the pond.
The family was staying in a house approximately 100 feet from the pond, and Hangaman had previously warned the boys to stay away from the water. Schools were closed due to a winter storm, which brought hazardous icy and freezing conditions to the area. All three brothers were elementary students in the Bonham Independent School District.
Multiple agencies, including the Bonham Fire Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Game Wardens, responded to the incident and participated in the recovery effort and investigation.
Lance Hamlin, the superintendent of the Bonham Independent School District, addressed the tragedy in a letter to families and announced that the district would offer counseling support for students and staff affected by the loss.
Winter storms can make frozen ponds and lakes significantly dangerous, particularly when the ice appears solid but is not thick enough to support weight. Safety experts recommend at least four inches of solid ice for a person to walk on, but many variables can affect ice strength.
Cold shock response can cause involuntary gasping and hyperventilation when someone falls into icy water, making it difficult to control breathing. Hypothermia can set in within minutes as cold water rapidly drains body heat. In such conditions, it becomes nearly impossible to pull oneself out without help.
Untrained individuals often become additional victims while attempting to rescue others, as they encounter the same hazards. Experts advise calling emergency services first, then attempting to reach the victim from the shore using a rope, ladder, or similar object that extends reach without requiring the rescuer to venture onto unstable ice.
A GoFundMe campaign was created to help cover funeral expenses for the three brothers. As of late January, the campaign had raised more than $60,000 in community support. Their father, Edward Doss, spoke with media outlets following the tragedy.
The severe winter storm that swept across Texas brought unusual icy and freezing conditions to areas unaccustomed to such weather. The weather event was identified as Winter Storm Fern, which caused widespread hazardous conditions across multiple states from January 23-27, 2026. As of late January, the storm had resulted in more than 100 confirmed weather-related deaths nationwide. Many residents, particularly children, have limited experience with frozen water bodies and their inherent dangers.
