A devastating event unfolded in Bonham, Texas on Monday, January 26, 2026, when three young brothers perished after falling through the ice on a frozen pond. Despite the desperate rescue attempts by their mother and a neighbor, the boys could not be saved.
The victims were identified as 6-year-old Howard Doss, 8-year-old Kaleb Doss, and 9-year-old Edward (EJ) Doss. The incident occurred on a private pond located off Rec Road 3 in Fannin County, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas, Texas.
The boys’ mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, reported that the youngest brother, Howard, was the first to fall into the icy water. His older brothers, Kaleb and EJ, jumped in following their younger brother in an attempt to save him, but tragically, their efforts were in vain.
Alerted by her daughter, Hangaman, a mother of six, rushed into the pond to rescue her sons, but the ice continued to break under her weight. “There was three of them and only one of me,” Hangaman explained. “That’s why I couldn’t save them.”
Hangaman, succumbing to the freezing temperatures, went into shock and was immobilized in the water. A neighbor, hearing her calls for help, managed to pull her out of the icy pond.
A local football coach for the Bonham Independent School District, John Ramsey, was nearby when he heard the distress call and responded. While Ramsey declined an interview, he remarked: “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.”
The oldest two brothers were pulled from the water by responders and the neighbor, and quickly transported to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries. A comprehensive search was conducted to recover the body of the youngest brother, who did not resurface.
The pond, approximately 100 feet from the family’s home, was an area Hangaman had previously warned her sons to stay away from.
All three boys were students in the Bonham Independent School District, which had shut down due to a severe winter storm that brought hazardous ice and freezing conditions to the area.
The Bonham Fire Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Game Wardens responded to the incident. Multiple agencies were involved in both the recovery effort and the subsequent investigation.
Lance Hamlin, superintendent of the Bonham Independent School District, wrote a letter to families addressing the heartbreaking incident. The district reported that counseling services would be available for students and staff affected by the tragedy.
Winter storms can pose significant risks due to frozen bodies of water, particularly when the ice, although appearing solid, is not thick enough to support weight. Factors such as water depth, current, temperature changes, and snow cover can alter ice thickness dramatically across a single water body, with safety experts suggesting at least four inches of solid ice to support a pedestrian.
When an individual falls through ice, the initial cold shock can lead to involuntary gasping and hyperventilation, making controlled breathing difficult. Hypothermia can occur within minutes as the cold water rapidly saps body heat. Self-rescue becomes nearly impossible as freezing water quickly reduces dexterity in the body’s extremities.
Rescue efforts by untrained individuals often lead to further casualties, as those attempting the rescue face the same risks as the original victim. Emergency responders receive extensive training in ice rescue techniques and utilize specialized equipment.
The instinct to jump in after someone who has fallen through ice is fraught with danger. Experts advise calling emergency services first, then trying to reach the victim from the shore using a rope, ladder, or branch.
In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was established to assist with the boys’ funeral expenses. The boys’ father, Edward Doss, has spoken to media following the incident.
The recent winter storms that hit Texas brought unprecedented ice and freezing conditions to areas unaccustomed to such severe winter weather. School closures, power outages, and hazardous travel conditions were widespread throughout North Texas. Many residents, particularly children, have limited familiarity with frozen bodies of water and the inherent risks they present.