Heartbroken Mother Speaks Out As Three Brothers Pass Away After an Incident in Texas

A North Texas mother is sharing her account following a winter incident involving her children, with authorities and neighbors now addressing what unfolded.

A winter storm swept through Bonham, Texas, about 60 miles from Dallas, setting the scene for an incident that would deeply affect one family. Three elementary school-aged brothers did not survive after falling through a frozen pond on Monday, according to officials.

Though authorities have not released their names, relatives identified the boys to FOX 4 as Howard, age six, Kaleb, age eight, and Edward, who was also known as EJ, age nine.

The two older boys were pulled from the water by a neighbor and first responders, then rushed to the hospital. Despite efforts to help them, both were later pronounced deceased. Their six-year-old brother never resurfaced. After hours of searching, authorities recovered him from the frigid pond.

Mother's Fight to Save Her Children Ends in Agony

Cheyenne Hangaman, the boys' mother, described the moments in an interview with FOX 4. "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 said.

She explained that the children had no plans to be near the pond. "We were actually just supposed to be sledding in a cardboard box somewhere, but that didn't happen," she shared.

Her daughter ran to her, screaming that her brothers were in trouble. Hangaman said Howard went under first, followed by his two brothers, who jumped in to try to help him.

"I started running toward the pond and I jumped in. I tried to save them while also trying to keep myself alive," Hangaman said. "As soon as I jumped in, I locked up. I couldn’t do anything."

It took less than 30 seconds to reach the pond. When she stepped onto the ice, it cracked. A neighbor pulled her out, but it was too late for the boys.

A Mother Torn Between Three Sons in Crisis

"It was one of me and three of them, and they all needed me at one time. I just couldn't... I couldn't save them," she said. "I knew that they were already gone, and I needed to get myself together for the other two that watched the whole thing."

One of those who ran to help was local high school football coach John Ramsay. "Any person in that situation would have done the same thing," Ramsay told FOX 4. "I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis."

Remembering the Boys

Hangaman is not surprised that her sons tried to help one another. "I expected the other one to try to save the other one and the other one to go after the other one. Yeah, I expected that," she stated. "They were mean to each other, but once something happens, it goes down there, right there, for each other."

She shared memories of her sons and their different personalities.

"EJ — he didn't care about nothing but football and getting his haircut. He wanted to play sports," she said. "Kaleb's personality was out of this world; he was the sweetest boy I ever met. And Howard... he was just goofy. He would liven the party. He was the first one who went in and the other boys tried to save him. That’s how they ended up in there."

Hangaman recalled a moment from earlier that day involving her middle child. "That day I was just [kissing] Kaleb on his cheeks, and he was just sitting there smiling, like I was just kissing him for no reason, and he was just like, What are you doing?" she said. "I didn't get to kiss the other ones that day."

The brothers were deeply loved not just by their family, but by everyone who knew them. Edward, the oldest, was known for his interest in football and often looked out for his younger brothers.

Kaleb, the middle child, enjoyed music and movement and was known for his lively personality. Howard, the youngest, was affectionately nicknamed "Howard the Duck" and loved Spider-Man. The brothers shared a close bond and spent much of their time together.

School and Community Step in After Unthinkable Loss

The Bonham Independent School District superintendent sent a letter to parents, calling the incident "an unimaginable loss" and pledging support to the family.

Ramsay, who also serves as Bonham ISD's athletic director, later released a written statement. He declined an interview, saying attention should remain on helping the family.

"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. I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis, doing what I hope anyone would do for someone in need," he stated.

Two online fundraisers have been launched to support the family. A GoFundMe created by the boys' aunt has raised $63,301 toward a $55,000 goal. A second fundraiser, created by Hangaman to help cover burial costs, has reached $2,345 of its $4,000 goal.