Officials say the boys, ages 6, 8 and 9, fell through a frozen pond near Bonham during Monday’s deep freeze.
BONHAM, Texas — Three elementary-age brothers died Monday after falling through ice on a private pond in Fannin County as an arctic blast gripped North Texas, authorities said. First responders pulled two children from the water and rushed them to a hospital, while a search team recovered the third child later.
Officials said the deaths occurred as temperatures hovered in the teens across the region and ice coated roads, pastures and stock ponds. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that the victims were brothers and that the incident happened outside Bonham, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas. The case remains under investigation by deputies and Texas game wardens. Bonham Independent School District notified families that three students from one household had died and said counseling teams were mobilized on campuses to support classmates and staff.
Emergency crews were called to the property off Rec Road No. 3 on Monday afternoon after reports that the children had gone into the water when the ice gave way. Deputies, firefighters and neighbors entered the pond to help. Two boys were pulled out and received immediate medical care before being transported. The youngest did not resurface and was located later by searchers working in the freezing water. “It’s a heartbreaking loss for our community,” Sheriff Cody Shook said in a written statement Tuesday. A neighbor who tried to help also pulled the children’s mother to shore after she entered the water to reach them.
Authorities identified the victims as brothers ages 6, 8 and 9. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office said names would not be formally released by law enforcement while the investigation proceeds. Relatives told local reporters the boys were known as EJ, 9; Kaleb, 8; and Howard, 6. The Bonham Fire Department said crews performing resuscitation efforts encountered thick ice, frigid air and low visibility in the water. Texas game wardens assisted with the recovery and are documenting conditions at the scene. Officials said it remains unknown how long the children were in the pond before help arrived.
Monday’s drownings came during a week of severe winter weather that has snarled travel and cut power across parts of the South. In North Texas, the cold snap followed a weekend storm that glazed rural tanks and backyard ponds with thin ice. Local ranchers and first responders said such surfaces can look solid but may not support weight, especially during brief warm-ups between hard freezes. Regional data show emergency calls for ice-related incidents typically spike during extended cold spells. Nearby, departments reported multiple rescues from vehicles that slid off icy roads, adding strain to crews already working prolonged shifts.
Investigators are expected to forward their findings to the county attorney once reports are complete. The medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death, a process that could take several weeks. Bonham ISD said counselors would remain on campuses through the week and that teachers were coordinating with principals to accommodate grieving students. No criminal allegations had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said it would release updates as they are confirmed and schedule additional briefings if needed.
Residents left flowers and stuffed animals near the property’s fence line Tuesday, while pastors and school staff gathered with relatives. “Our hearts are broken,” Superintendent Lance Hamlin said, noting that principals had met with families in the morning. A high school coach who ran to the scene described neighbors forming a human chain in the water. The boys’ mother told a local TV station she went into the pond but could not reach her children. A volunteer firefighter who helped search said crews rotated quickly to warm up between entries as wind chills dipped near zero.
As of late Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said the scene was cleared and reports were being compiled. Counselors planned to visit classrooms again Wednesday, Jan. 28, and community leaders discussed a vigil later in the week. Officials said further details, including autopsy findings, would be released when available.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.