BONHAM, Texas — A Texas mother is mourning the loss of her three young sons after they fell through thin ice on a frozen pond north of Bonham during a period of extreme winter weather, authorities said.
The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office identified the children as Howard Doss, 6; Kaleb Doss, 8; and EJ Doss, 9. The incident happened on Monday, January 26, 2026, at a private pond as freezing temperatures gripped the region.
Their mother, 34-year-old Cheyenne Hangaman, was nearby when the accident occurred. She told investigators that she had warned the children earlier to stay away from the pond. Moments later, one of her other children ran to her, saying the boys had fallen into the water.
Hangaman rushed to the pond and repeatedly attempted to reach her sons as the ice broke beneath her. She entered the freezing water in a desperate effort to save them but was unable to pull all three to safety. She later described hearing her children screaming for help as the ice continued to give way.
A nearby neighbor responded and helped pull Hangaman from the water using a rope as she began to lose strength from the cold.
Emergency responders arrived shortly afterward and recovered the children from the pond. The two older boys were transported to a hospital, where life-saving measures were attempted, but they later died. The youngest child was located after a search of the pond. All three were pronounced dead.
The boys were students in the Bonham Independent School District, which canceled classes due to the severe winter conditions. District officials described the loss as devastating and said grief counselors are being made available to students and staff.
Authorities emphasized the dangers of frozen ponds and lakes, warning that ice thickness can vary widely and may not be strong enough to support a person’s weight, even when it appears solid.
The incident remains under investigation, though officials said there is no indication of foul play. Community members have rallied around the family as they grieve the loss of the three children.
Video Credit: ABC7 Los Angeles