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I dont know if its so in all states, but I had a similar situation in Maryland many years ago. Did the whole walk through thing (I actually only rented a room in a home with the LL's daughter and the rest of the home was shared)
We shared the phone and utilities as well. About a month after I left I questioned why I had not gotten my deposit back and was told it was due to damage to the room and an unpaid phone bill.
Well I had proof of the walk through (signed by the LL that there were no damages) and a copy of a check for my half of the phone bill for my last month of occupancy. It turned out that they were trying to have me pay for the month after I was gone.

I did a little research in a law library and discovered that not only could they NOT keep my deposit but because they had been obviously trying to rip me off I could now ask for 3 times my deposit in return plus court costs!!

I had made copies of this article from the law book and once the judge read it...saw the evidence...he ruled in my favor for said 3 times the original deposit.

So again...dont know about all states, but some have safeguards in place to protect tenants from shifty money grubbing landlords.