Tragedy in the Ice: Three Brothers Die After Falling into Frozen Texas Pond

BONHAM, Texas — In a heartbreaking winter tragedy that has shaken a small North Texas community and drawn widespread grief across the nation, three young brothers — Howard (6), Kaleb (8), and E.J. (9) — died on January 26 after falling through the ice on a frozen pond near Bonham, Texas. The boys’ deaths come amid a powerful and deadly winter storm that has brought extreme cold, ice, and widespread disruption to large portions of the United States. �

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The incident occurred on a private pond just north of Bonham, a rural community roughly 70 miles northeast of Dallas near the Oklahoma border. The boys were staying at a house across the street from the pond when the tragedy struck. As temperatures plummeted and ice formed on the surface of water bodies that rarely freeze solid in this part of the country, the conditions became deceptively dangerous. �

KSAT

According to local authorities, the youngest of the three, 6‑year‑old Howard, first fell through the thin ice. In an instinctive act of bravery and sibling solidarity, his older brothers Kaleb and E.J. immediately leapt onto the ice to try to help him. Within moments, all three were struggling in the freezing water. �

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A Mother’s Desperate Attempt

Their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, was inside the house when she was alerted to the danger by her daughter’s cries that her brothers had gone into the pond. In the chilling chaos that followed, Hangaman sprinted toward the water and dove in, desperately attempting to rescue her boys — even as her own body was quickly overwhelmed by the shockingly cold water. “It was one of me and three of them, and they all needed me at one time,” she told investigators, recounting the nearly impossible moment when she was unable to save any of her sons. �

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According to Hangaman, the frigid temperatures and the breaking ice around them made rescue efforts nearly impossible. A neighbor and a local coach rushed to assist, and emergency responders arrived shortly thereafter. A good Samaritan eventually pulled the distraught mother from the water, nearly losing her own life in the process. Despite the swift response of first responders and bystanders, medical intervention could not save the children. �

People.com

Two of the boys, Kaleb and E.J., were pulled from the pond and transported to a hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. The youngest brother, Howard, did not resurface and was recovered only after an extensive search of the icy water. All three were later confirmed dead. �

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Community Response and Mourning

The Bonham Independent School District, where all three boys were enrolled as elementary students, expressed profound sorrow and extended support to the grieving family, staff, and students. In a letter to families, the district announced that counselors would be available to help students and staff cope with the emotional aftermath of the tragedy. �

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Residents of Bonham and surrounding areas described the event as an “unimaginable loss” that has reverberated through their close‑knit community. Many families and local leaders have mobilized to offer support, while fundraisers have been launched to assist Hangaman and her remaining children during this unimaginably difficult time. �

People.com

A Broader Context: Deadly Winter Storm

The tragic deaths of the three brothers occurred in the broader context of a severe winter storm sweeping across Texas and other parts of the United States — bringing snow, ice, dangerously low temperatures, power outages, and hazardous travel conditions. This storm has already been linked to dozens of deaths nationwide related to weather‑related accidents, hypothermia, and other winter hazards. �

Chron

In Texas alone, authorities are reporting multiple weather‑related fatalities over the past several days, including other accidents involving icy conditions. The extreme temperature fluctuations have led to unusual freezing in areas unaccustomed to sustained sub‑freezing conditions, contributing to the perilous state of frozen ponds, lakes, and roadways. �

Chron

Lessons and Reflections on Safety

Experts note that when bodies of water freeze in regions unaccustomed to prolonged winter cold, the ice can be especially unpredictable — forming thin, unstable surfaces that can easily give way under weight. This presents grave risks for children and adults alike who may not fully understand how tenuous ice can be in these conditions. Safety officials urge families to keep children away from ponds, lakes, and canal edges during cold spells to prevent similar tragedies. �

KSAT

For the Hangaman family, however, such warnings come far too late. The sense of loss and disbelief is profound, and the grief experienced by the brothers’ mother — who tried valiantly but ultimately could not save her children — resonates powerfully in communities across the nation where this story has struck a deep chord. �

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Remembering the Boys

Friends and family remember the boys for their distinct personalities, energy, and love of life. Kaleb reportedly loved to dance and sing, EJ dreamed of becoming a football star, and young Howard had a knack for making others laugh. These small but vivid memories highlight the deep human loss behind the headlines and statistics — three young lives filled with promise, cut tragically short. �

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As Bonham and communities far beyond Texas continue to process this heartbreaking tragedy, the legacy of Howard, Kaleb, and E.J. — their courage for one another in the face of danger — will remain a poignant reminder of family bonds and the devastating impact of unforeseen accidents. �