As the snow and ice begin to melt, a Texas mother’s journey to a fresh start has just begun. Cheyenne Hangaman, a mother of six, told her children to stay away from a pond near a home in Bonham. The city, about 70 miles northeast of Dallas, experienced atypical winter weather beginning on January 26, 2026. A severe ice storm caused the pond to become frozen in some parts, but Hangaman knew it wasn’t safe to stand on. Sadly, one of her sons tried to walk on the ice and fell through.
The next thing she knew, two of her other sons went in after him. Hangaman also jumped into the water, but it was too late. All three of her sons died, leaving her heartbroken.
According to CBS News Texas, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical services received a call on January 26. They recovered the bodies of 6‑year‑old Howard Doss, 8‑year‑old Kaleb Doss, and 9‑year‑old EJ Doss. Hangaman told the news outlet that she told her boys not to go near the water, but kids being kids, they did anyway. She said Howard tried to “skate” and things changed “in an instant.” Kaleb and EJ tried to help Howard, but they ended up in the water too.
“I tried to pick one up and put them on the ice,” Hangaman said through tears. “It would just break and keep falling in.”
“There was three of them and only one of me,” she added. “That’s why I couldn’t save them.”
First responders pulled Kaleb and EJ from the water and attempted life-saving measures. They both died at the hospital a short time later. Sadly, it took much longer to find Howard, who they declared dead on the scene.
CBS News Texas reported that Bonham ISD Athletic Director John Ramsey, confirmed in a statement that he tried to help Hangaman and the boys.
“I was nearby helping a neighbor when I heard someone calling for help and went to assist. Any person in that situation would have done the same thing,” Ramsey shared in the statement. “I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis, doing what I hope anyone would do for someone in need.”
Ramsey added that he wants the focus to be on the family and their healing, not him.
“I will not be doing interviews at this time. Instead, I ask that we all come together to support this family however we can. Thank you for your understanding,” Ramsey concluded in his statement.
The boys attended Bonham ISD, according to a statement obtained by NBC DFW. “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we inform our community of the tragic passing of three elementary students,” the Bonham ISD confirmed. “We are devastated by this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all who knew and loved these children.”
Hangaman’s sister, Amber Kuhn, created a GoFundMe account to help the family during this heartbreaking time. It’s raised more than $63,000 thus far.
It’s unclear whether anyone will face charges in the boys’ deaths. For Hangaman, it’s a day she’ll never forget.
“How do you go from having six kids to three? I don’t know how you do that. I guess I gotta figure it out,” Hangaman told Fox 4. “We were actually just supposed to be sledding in a cardboard box somewhere, but that didn’t happen.”
We could hear the pain in her voice and see it on her face. Now isn’t a time for judgment but for love and support. No mother deserves this kind of pain. Ever.
