On January 27, 2026, Cheyenne Hangaman frantically tried to rescue her three sons—Howard, 6; Kaleb, 8; and E.J., 9—after they fell through the ice while playing on a pond near their temporary residence in Bonham, Texas. The pond, located just 100 feet from the house, had been a popular play area, despite Hangaman's warnings to stay away from the icy surface.
The incident occurred as a winter storm swept through the region, bringing freezing temperatures. Hangaman’s daughter alerted her that her brothers had fallen into the water. In a desperate bid to save them, she jumped in but immediately realized the danger of the situation as the frigid water froze her body in shock.
"I tried to help them, but the ice kept breaking every time I tried to get one out," she recounted, tears streaming down her face. Rescue efforts ensued, with neighbors and first responders managing to pull the two older boys from the water. However, they later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, and the youngest boy's body was recovered after an extensive search.
Describing the heart-wrenching moment, Hangaman said, "I watched them struggle, and I couldn't help them." She expressed her deep grief, saying, "How do you go from having six kids to three? I don't know how you do that."
The devastating event prompted the closure of Bonham Independent School District, where all three boys attended. Superintendent Lance Hamlin expressed grief in a statement, declaring the district's commitment to providing support for the family and students affected by this tragic loss.
In the wake of the family's heartbreak, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral expenses. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, emphasizing the importance of vigilance when dealing with frozen bodies of water during extreme weather conditions.
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