Bonham schools deploy counselors after siblings die during Monday’s arctic snap in Fannin County.
BONHAM, Texas — A North Texas community is in mourning after three brothers ages 6, 8 and 9 died Monday when a frozen pond gave way on private property outside Bonham, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office said. Two children were pulled from the water and taken to a hospital; a recovery team later found the third.
The deaths came as a deep freeze lingered across Texas, glazing rural ponds and shutting down classes across the region. Bonham Independent School District confirmed Tuesday that all three children were enrolled in district schools and said crisis counselors were stationed on campuses to meet with students and staff. The sheriff’s office and Texas game wardens are investigating and plan to release additional details after reports are complete. Officials said early findings indicate the boys were playing near or on the ice when it fractured, sending them into the water.
Deputies and firefighters responded to a call from the property off Rec Road No. 3 on Monday afternoon. Neighbors joined first responders in the pond as wind chills fell near zero, according to emergency officials at the scene. A neighbor helped pull the boys’ mother from the water after she tried to reach her children. “Everyone did everything they could under impossible conditions,” Bonham Fire Chief officers said. Sheriff Cody Shook called the incident “devastating” and praised residents who rushed to help before crews arrived.
The sheriff’s office said the victims were brothers younger than 10. Family members later identified them to local media as EJ, 9; Kaleb, 8; and Howard, 6. The two older boys were rescued first and received lifesaving measures before being transported; they were later pronounced dead at a hospital. The youngest was recovered after an extensive search by Texas game wardens and firefighters using cold-water gear. Officials have not said how long the children were in the water. The county medical examiner will determine cause and manner of death.
Bonham, a city of about 12,600 and the county seat, sits roughly an hour northeast of Dallas. Icy farm tanks and stock ponds are common in hard freezes, and first responders say those surfaces can look deceptively solid. The brothers’ deaths occurred during a multi-state winter storm that has been blamed for scores of weather-related fatalities nationwide. On Tuesday, city officials fielded calls from residents offering meals for first responders and comfort items for classmates. Churches opened prayer spaces, and a local youth football coach who rushed to the scene described neighbors forming a line in the water to search by feel.
In the coming days, investigators will complete interviews and scene diagrams and assemble timelines for official reports. Bonham ISD said counselors would remain at affected campuses through the week and that principals were coordinating with families about memorials. No criminal allegations had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said it would share updates when they are confirmed and that any public briefings would be posted in advance.
Outside the property Tuesday evening, mourners left flowers and stuffed animals along a fence as dusk fell and the pond refroze in patches. “Our district is heartbroken,” Superintendent Lance Hamlin said, adding that staff members were rotating to give teachers time to meet with students. A volunteer firefighter described crews cycling out of the water every few minutes to warm up before returning. Residents stopped by to thank responders, some in heavy coats and work boots still dusted with sleet.
As of late Tuesday, investigators had cleared the scene and the school district said additional counseling and classroom supports were planned Wednesday, Jan. 28. Officials said they expect to release further information after the medical examiner’s office completes initial findings.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.