The medical records of Johnny Lee Ellis Jr. -- charged with murdering his girlfriend, her sister and their 75-year-old mother -- will be reviewed by a Ramsey County judge to see whether Ellis is competent to stand trial.

Ellis, 38, appearing Monday before Ramsey County District Judge John Van De North, told a friend he had stabbed his girlfriend, Angela Vigen, 40, in her Mounds View home last month, according to court records. In explaining the death of her mother, Jolyn Vigen, Ellis allegedly said he "couldn't leave a witness."

He is charged with three counts of second-degree murder in their deaths and in the death of Jennifer Vigen, 35, who was stabbed 22 times in the face, back and neck, according to an autopsy. Jolyn was stabbed 13 times in the face, neck and upper shoulders. Angela died from sharp-force injuries to her head and a blunt-force injury to her forehead. A 2-inch piece of knife blade had broken off and was lodged in her brain.

"These are real serious charges," the judge said to Ellis, who remained quiet throughout the omnibus hearing. "The allegations are of the highest order."

Ellis was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale on Oct. 27 -- after the women were killed and after a physical confrontation between Ellis and police, prosecutor David Miller told the court. Two hours after allegedly confessing to the killings, Ellis was trying to kill himself, according to Minneapolis police, who were called to Ellis' friend's apartment.

Police arrived at the apartment to find Ellis holding a knife to his chest and threatening to kill himself and hurt the officers, police said. Police used a Taser on him, but he began stabbing himself in the chest. Officers wrestled away the knife. Ellis also tried to jump from a third-floor balcony, police said.

As Ellis sat quietly in the courtroom Monday, his once-swollen left eye now just slightly closed, the judge agreed that the medical records be taken by the court. They will be reviewed by Nov. 24, when Ellis makes his next appearance.

Paul Levy • 612-673-4419